Monday, February 23, 2015

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia / Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM)

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The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) was established by Parliament under the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999, Act 597. The Act was gazetted on 9 September 1999. The inaugural meeting of SUHAKAM was held on 24 April 2000.
The initiative to set up a national human rights institution in Malaysia began with Malaysia’s active participation in the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) in 1993-95 when it was elected as a member of the Commission by the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Malaysia was honored in 1995 with the election of the leader of the delegation, Tan Sri Dato’ Musa bin Hitam, as the Chairman of the 52nd session of the UNCHR. Malaysia was elected to serve a second term in the UNCHR from 1996-98 and its third term from 2001-2003.

The impetus for the Malaysian Government to finally consider the setting up of a national human rights institution came from several sources. Malaysia’s active involvement in the UNCHR was one. The international attention on human rights as a result of the success of the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna where governments, including Malaysia, agreed that human rights are universal and indivisible, and they recognized the importance of setting up national human rights institutions, also influenced the Government.
As leader of the Malaysian delegation to the UNCHR, Tan Sri Musa, in 1994 first suggested to the Government that the time was right for Malaysia to establish its own independent national human rights institution. Several factors influenced this proposal: the growing international emphasis on human rights and recognition that it crosses boundaries and sovereignty; Malaysia’s active involvement in the United Nations system; the changing political climate in Malaysia with a more politically conscious electorate and dynamic civil society. By the mid-1990s, seven Asian countries, including two from ASEAN – Indonesia and the Philippines – had already established national human rights institutions, while Thailand was in the midst of setting up its own.
On 24 April 1999, five years after the idea was first mooted, the Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, announced that the Government would table a Bill in the July 1999 sitting of Parliament to establish the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia. The Bill was guided by the Paris Principles of 1992 which provided the international criteria by which an independent human rights commission should be established, and also by the experience of established human rights institutions, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.
On 3 April 2000, the Government announced the appointment of SUHAKAM’s first Chairman, Tan Sri Dato’ Musa bin Hitam, and the 12 other members of the Commission to serve a two-year term, which is renewable. The appointments were made by His Majesty the Yang DiPertuan Agong on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Although the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act allows for the appointment of up to 20 members, it was decided that SUHAKAM would begin its task with 13 members until such time when more are needed. SUHAKAM members were selected to reflect the diversity and pluralism of Malaysian society and also on the basis of the experience, commitment, independence and integrity of the individual.
In order to carry out its duties and functions more effectively, specific groups were formed on education and public relations, research and policy development, as well as on complaints, inquiries and monitoring.
Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM) ditubuhkan oleh Parlimen di bawah Akta Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia 1999, Akta 597. Akta tersebut telah diwartakan pada 9 September 1999. Mesyuarat sulung SUHAKAM diadakan pada 24 April 2000.
Usaha menubuhkan sebuah institusi hak asasi manusia pada peringkat nasional di Malaysia bermula dengan penyertaan aktif Malaysia dalam Suruhanjaya Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu bagi Hak Asasi Manusia (United Nations Commission for Human Rights – UNCHR) pada tahun 1993 – 95 apabila Malaysia dilantik sebagai ahli Suruhanjaya tersebut oleh Majlis Ekonomi dan Sosial Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB). Pada tahun 1995, Malaysia diberi penghormatan apabila ketua perwakilannya, Tan Sri Dato’ Musa bin Hitam dilantik sebagai Pengerusi sesi ke-52 UNCHR. Keanggotaan Malaysia dalam UNCHR dilanjutkan bagi penggal kedua, iaitu dari 1996-1998, dan seterusnya ke penggal ketiga, iaitu dari 2001-2003
Pelbagai sebab telah mendorong Kerajaan Malaysia sehingga akhimya mempertimbangkan penubuhan sebuah institusi kebangsaan hak asasi manusia. Selain penglibatan aktif Malaysia dalam UNCHR. Turut mempengaruhi ialah perhatian antarabangsa terhadap isu hak asasi manusia natijah daripada kejayaan Persidangan Sedunia berhubung Hak Asasi Manusia pada tahun 1993 di Vienna. Kerajaan-kerajaan yang menyertainya, termasuk Malaysia, bersetuju bahawa hak-hak asasi manusia meliputi rangkuman sejagat dan tidak boleh dipisahkan dan mereka juga menyedari peri pentingnya diwujudkan badan hak asasi manusia di peringkat negara masing-masing.
Sebagai ketua perwakilan Malaysia ke UNCHR, Tan Sri Musa telah mencadangkan buat pertama kalinya kepada kerajaan Malaysia pada tahun 1994 bahawa inilah masa terbaik bagi Malaysia menubuhkan badan hak asasi kebangsaannya sendiri yang bebas.Beberapa faktor telah mendorong cadangan ini: semakin meluasnya tekanan antarabangsa terhadap hak asasi manusia dan kesedaran bahawa isu ini melewati sempadan dan kedaulatan sebuah negara; penglibatan aktif Malaysia dalam sistem Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu; suasana dan kepekaan politik di samping kemajuan yang dicapai masyarakatnya. Menjelang pertengahan tahun 1990-an, tujuh negara Asia, termasuk dua dari ASEAN – Indonesia dan Filipina – sudahpun menubuhkan institusi hak asasi kebangsaan masing-masing, manakala Thailand pula sedang membuat persiapan untuk mengambil langkah yang sama.
Pada 24 April 1999, lima tahun selepas idea itu diajukan, Menteri Luar, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, mengumumkan bahawa Kerajaan akan membentang satu Rang Undang-Undang dalam sidang Parlimen pada bulan Julai 1999 bagi menubuhkan Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia. Rang Undang-Undang ini berpandukan kepada Prinsip Paris 1992 yang memperuntukkan kriteria antarabangsa bagi penubuhan sesebuah suruhanjaya hak asasi manusia yang bebas dan juga kepada pengalaman institusi hak asasi manusia yang sudah tertubuh, terutamanya dirantau Asia Pasifik.
Pada 3 April 2000, Kerajaan mengumumkan perlantikan pengerusi pertama SUHAKAM iaitu Tan Sri Dato’ Musa bin Hitam dan 12 ahli Suruhanjaya yang akan berkhidmat selama dua tahun dan penggal perkhidmatan mereka boleh dilanjutkan. Pelantikan dibuat oleh Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Dipertuan Agong atas nasihat Perdana Menteri.Meskipun Akta Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia membenarkan pelantikan sehingga 20 orang ahli, keputusan dibuat bahawa SUHAKAM akan memulakan tugasnya dengan 13 ahli sehinggalah apabila lebih ramai ahli dirasakan perlu. Ahli SUHAKAM dipilih bagi mencerminkan kepelbagaian dalam masyarakat Malaysia yang berbilang kaum dan juga berdasarkan pengalaman, iltizam, kebebasan dan kewibawaan individu berkenaan.
Untuk membolehkan Suruhanjaya menjalankan tugasnya dengan lebih berkesan, beberapa kumpulan kerja yang khusus telah dibentuk, merangkumi pendidikan dan promosi, pembaharuan undang-undang serta perjanjian dan suratcara antarabangsa, hak ekonomi, sosial dan kebudayaan, dan aduan dan siasatan.
source / sumber :::http://www.suhakam.org.my

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