A feasibility study on the establishment of a dedicated human rights tribunal is expected to be completed by October this year, says deputy law and institutional reform minister M Kulasegaran.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat today, he said a committee was set up in June to explore the feasibility of such a tribunal.
“The study began recently and is expected to be completed by October 2025. The committee will examine various perspectives, inputs and views on relevant aspects of this effort,” he said during ministerial question time.
According to Kulasegaran, the committee is chaired by former Court of Appeal judge Mah Weng Kwai and includes representatives from the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, Suhakam, the Bar Council, academics, relevant government agencies, and NGOs, among others.
Five meetings have been held to date, including a presentation on preliminary findings on July 9, which outlined a conceptual framework and analysis of Malaysia’s existing human rights mechanisms.
“The study also includes a comparative analysis of international models, proposals for the structure of a Malaysian human rights tribunal, and stakeholder focus group discussions,” he said.
The deputy minister was responding to Teresa Kok (PH-Seputeh), who asked for an update on the government’s efforts to introduce a human rights tribunal.
Kulasegaran said the committee was also examining how Suhakam’s findings and recommendations could be enforced through the proposed tribunal.
“I believe Suhakam’s views should not be ignored, but acted upon,” he added.
He said while it was too early to determine the tribunal’s full framework and legal structure, any future body would have the mandate to handle cases involving human rights violations.
