PSC on human rights will allow more room for scrutiny

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) today welcomed the government's move to set up a permanent Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on human rights.

In a statement, Sukaham's chairman Tan Sri Hasmy Agam (pic) said the setting up of the PSC will allow Members of Parliament to discuss the findings of the commission’s annual report and to address human rights issues raised by the commission.

He said Suhakam had in the past 13 years prepared and submitted its annual reports to Parliament and has been consistently urging the government to table and debate the reports.

"It is hoped that the permanent Parliamentary Select Committee will be established soon to enable it to discuss the Commission's next annual report," he said.

On Tuesday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz annnounced in the Dewan Rakat that the government might consider setting up a special parliamentary committee on human rights.

Nazri said the idea was mooted as he felt Suhakam's yearly report should be debated among Members of Parliament.