The National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam)'s report on its lengthy inquiry on indigenous community land was not tabled to Parliament for debate following advise from a cabinet minister.


 Suhakam chairperson Hasmy Agam said the commission decided to submit it to the government instead, after encouraged to do so by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Paul Low.


 Speaking at a press conference on Suhakam's 2013 annual report, he said Suhakam took Low's advise in hopes that the government will implement recommendations in the indigenous people's interest.


 "Low suggested that instead of Parliament, we submit to the government.


 "We consulted among ourselves, because we thought it appeared to be backtracking, but... The most important thing is the outcome.


 "If we submit to parliament there will be debate, which is good, but if the government does not buy it then it is difficult (to meet objectives)," he said.


 However, a Prime Minister's Department task force, which was due to submit a report on which recommendations the government will take on earlier this year, has yet to complete the task.


 "If only a few of the recommendations are taken up, then we will continue to pressure. We have a plan of action and campaign," he said, urging the task force to speed up the process.


 He also said that it is not unusual for governments to reject recommendations by human rights commissions and Suhakam is prepared to continue to lobby for changes.


 
 
 Low a pro-active minister
 
 


 Hasmy said that although Low preferred not to table the matter to Parliament, he is also a "proactive" minister who has actively pursued what the state likes to call "low-hanging fruits".


 He added that Low (
 
 right
 
 ) has also pledged commitment to the creation of a permanent parliamentary select committee on human rights.


 Hasmy said Low was the only one out of three ministers Suhakam had to engage on the matter to give his unqualified support.


 He said that de facto law minister Nancy Shukri had agreed "on principle" but said she needed to check on points of law while minister in charge of parliamentary affairs Shahidan Kassim had other reservations.


 Suhakam had to engage the three ministers despite receiving the go-ahead in the last term, as then minister in charge of parliament Nazri Abdul Aziz has changed portfolios.


 Hasmy said that the PSC, although still in the works, is an "interim" measure until parliamentarians "gain the confidence" to debate the report in the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara.


 Ideally, he said, Suhakam would prefer for the annual report to be debated in the House but he foresees that it will not happen for a "few years" despite Suhakam lobbying for it since its inception in 1999.


 He also said that MPs can have robust discussions on human rights in a PSC rather than the House, where they feel the pressure to toe party lines.


 He added that Malaysia is one of the few countries in the world which is still "cautious and not brave enough" to debate a national human rights commission's report in Parliament.

UPDATED 4.50PM

This is why the Orang Asli land report was not tabled.

'Minister swayed Suhakam from tabling report'

~RM12

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