Cabinet approval has to be obtained before the annual report of the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) can be tabled in Parliament.

De facto law minister Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz told Malaysiakini that he will broach this matter in the cabinet when Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak returns after his eight-day working visit to the United States.

Suhakam chief commissioner Hasmy Agam had told Malaysiakini last week that the move would be a first for the commission , which was formed a decade ago.

He said he had spoken to Nazri about presenting the report to Parliament and was confident it would be debated.

"I've no problem with it but I need to put it to the cabinet for their decision," said Nazri.

"But it is not like it (Suhakam report) is never been debated. They (MPs) do quote and cite these reports when they debate the royal address, the budget, and so on."

Hasmy said that the law required Suhakam to submit its annual report in Parliament.

The first Parliament sitting this year ended on April 7 and the next session will convene in June.

'Toothless tiger'

Suhakam, established under the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999, has been submitting its annual human rights report to Parliament since 2002. The 2010 report was submitted on March 21.

suhakam 2005 annual report 220306 reading However, the government has refused to table the report for debate despite pressure from civil society groups and Suhakam.

The annual report tracks progress towards human rights protection on a series of fronts, as well as recommendations to overcome violation of rights.

Some quarters have criticised the commission as a 'toothless tiger' for not doing enough to pressure the government to adopt its recommendations, let alone having its report debated in Parliament.