Why isn’t Malaysia publishing its human rights reports?

WE, the undersigned 11 organisations, demand clarity on the delay of the release of the 2020 and 2021 annual reports of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam). The long-delayed publication of these reports could derail the important work that Suhakam has conducted to be accredited as an A-status institution. The delay also undermines its commitment to protect and promote human rights in accordance with international human rights standards.

According to section 21(1) of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999, Suhakam shall submit an annual report to Parliament no later than the first meeting of Parliament of the following year. The 2020 report should have been submitted during the first Parliamentary session of 2021 at the latest. Similarly, the 2021 annual report should have been tabled in the first Parliamentary session of 2022; that session ended on March 24, 2022. To date, there have been no formal announcements or indications either from Suhakam or the government that the reports would be tabled during the next Parliamentary session, which is scheduled for July 2022.