Human rights NGO Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), however, pointed out that Suhakam still suffered from procedural weaknesses that limited its ability to ensure prompt actions were taken by the relevant agencies.

Suaram said this during the launch of its 2015 Human Rights Overview report today at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall.

Suaram noted in its report that Suhakam had yet to establish a formal and permanent platform for broader cooperation between it and civil society or relevant government agencies.

This was despite Suhakam’s recent campaign calling for Malaysia’s accession to the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Uncat).

“This campaign is a positive development as it is the first time Suhakam has proactively engaged civil society in the promotion of human rights in Malaysia,” the report read.

“(However), without formalising such an arrangement, Suhakam cannot yet claim to have greater representation and to hold the moral high ground as the national human rights commission of Malaysia.”

Suaram also criticised the budget cuts for 2016 that saw Suhakam’s allocation slashed from RM10.9 million in 2015 to RM5.5 million this year.

“It is curious how the Malaysian Government expects Suhakam to operate with such a limited budget at its disposal,” the report read.

“The cut in budget of almost 50% contravenes the responsibility of the government in funding Suhakam under Section 19(1) of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999.”

Suaram also criticised the government’s immediate rejection of Suhakam’s proposed amendments to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999, to give it additional power to better execute its duties.

“It has likely incurred the displeasure of the government by bringing to light numerous human rights violations in Malaysia,” the report read.