KUALA LUMPUR – The upcoming Budget 2025 allocations should take into account recommendations made to Malaysia by the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR), according to human rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram).
Sevan Doraisamy, Suaram’s executive director, highlighted that a key UPR recommendation is the enhancement of human rights training for law enforcement officers, particularly with guidelines on policing public assemblies.
He told Scoop that institutionalising comprehensive human rights education within the police force is crucial for ensuring long-term sensitisation. This would equip law enforcement officers with a ‘human rights lens’ to better uphold public safety.
The funds that will be revealed during today’s tabling of the Supply Bill, he said, should be allocated to training educators in police academies nationwide, with a focus on a human rights module co-developed with the National Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).
Doraisamy further noted that funding should also support ongoing training for officers, as well as regular monitoring and evaluation of the human rights modules.
Following the 56th session of the Human Rights Council, Malaysia accepted 223 out of the 348 recommendations from 130 participating states, according to a July 7 statement from the Foreign Ministry. Of these, 182 were accepted in full and 41 partially, while 125 were merely acknowledged.
Doraisamy also drew attention to another UPR recommendation, accepted by the Malaysian government, which calls for measures to prevent torture, ill-treatment, and deaths in detention centres.
He praised efforts to reduce overcrowding in prisons through initiatives such as licensed prisoner release programmes. However, he stressed that greater attention must be given to improving infrastructure, sanitation, and healthcare facilities in detention centres, especially prisons.
“Many prison detainees live in poorly ventilated conditions, and those in older facilities lack access to basic, hygienic sanitation,” Doraisamy explained.
“These conditions heighten their vulnerability to disease. The lack of proper health equipment and, in some cases, adequate healthcare personnel in prison clinics leaves their health and lives at serious risk.”
He argued that strengthening accountability mechanisms, particularly the Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC), is equally important. He suggested that budget allocations could significantly bolster the IPCC’s ability to carry out its duties.
Doraisamy criticised the IPCC for being understaffed and underfunded, hindering its capacity to investigate complaints, engage with multiple stakeholders, and raise awareness. The IPCC is also tasked with conducting research and advising the police and government on key areas for reform.
“Providing the IPCC with sufficient funds to hire qualified personnel and invest in institutional capacity-building could empower it as an effective check-and-balance against the police,” Doraisamy said.
“This would facilitate long-term changes in problematic norms and practices that perpetuate a culture of tolerance towards violence and violations of detainees’ basic rights.”
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the Royal Malaysia Police and Suhakam would launch investigations and studies on injuries and deaths in custody.
In July, the Prime Minister’s Department reported 74 custodial deaths in 2023, with immigration depots accounting for the highest number of deaths—41 cases, including two children. – October 18, 2024
