The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) today announced that it will conduct a national public inquiry on indigenous people’s land rights.

NONE “The results will be hard facts and people will have to testify. The persons responsible will have to answer for any breach,” commissioner James Nayagam said at a press conference after a two-hour meeting between Suhakam and NGOs ( right ).

“Statistical data and facts on indigenous people’s land issues would be gathered by experts,” he said.

Nayagam said that they will deal with the issues raised on a case-by-case basis, in Suhakam’s first-ever inquiry into the issue since it was founded in 1999.

He added that results from the inquiry will be made available to interested parties and individuals as well as government agencies, by request.

He said that parties can then proceed to pursue the matter on their own accord, with the facts and data provided by Suhakam.

The inquiry will be conducted after the preparatory stage lasting the next six months.

Royal commission rejected

In the past, an application for the formation of a Royal Commission of Inquiry to look into the problem had been made, but the government had turned it down without giving reasons.

NONE When asked whether the inquiry would result in mere reference guidelines, Nayagam ( left ) objected to the label.

“The national inquiry will be a most meaningful form of justice to those who are suffering. This is how we can inform the public on what is going on,” he stressed.

During the meeting, Bar Council representative Andrew Khoo had raised the issue that crony companies had been “systematically” destroying indigenous people’s lands and way of life for commercial purposes.

“We cannot wait until we become a developed country before talking about protecting human rights,” said Khoo.

In another development, it had also been announced that four commissioners are now working full-time, instead of part-time which had been the norm.

They are Nayagam, Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah, Jannie Lasimbang and chairperson Hasmy Agam.