The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) will focus on improving five main agendas by engaging with the government and relevant authorities to move forward, said reappointed Suhakam chairperson Hasmy Agam.

NONE He said the five issues were on ageing population, children with learning disabilities, human rights in business, public inquiries and education on human rights at primary schools.

Hasmy ( right ) noted that Suhakam could be a powerful force for change when utilised strategically to address the voice and needs of civil society.

"There are several different ways that Suhakam will engage with the government and relevant bodies, including having talks with ministers of respective ministries, providing reports, sending complaints and raising situations of human rights violations.

"The key is to know when to use which approach, and how to maximise our efforts," he told reporters at Suhakam's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

NONE Besides Hasmy, Prof Dr Khaw Lake Tee, Prof Dr Mahmood Zuhdi A Majid and James Deva Nayagam ( left ) have also been reappointed as Suhakam commissioners for a three-year term effective April 26.

The three new members of Suhakam are Dean of Faculty of Law, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Prof Dr Aishah Bidin, former sub-editor of Sabah Times Sylvester Madating@ Nordin Kasim and honorary secretary for Pertubuhan Orang Cacat Sarawak Francis Johen anak Adam.

Getting g ov't to ratify UN conventions

On another note, Hasmy said Suhakam faced a tough challenge to push the government to ratify six core United Nations (UN) Human Rights conventions, among others the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination; the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the UN Convention against Torture.

najib razak in new york united nation un general assembly speech He added that Malaysia had demonstrated its continuing commitment to being part of the global human rights community and had ratified three conventions.

They are the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and Convention On The Elimination of All Forms Of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), both in 1995; and Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2010).

"Suhakam will take this as a challenge to convince Malaysia to consider ratifying the conventions, as these conventions will greatly enhance the nation's credibility and influence in the UN Human Rights Council, and also in the international community," he said.

- Bernama