SUHAKAM REPORT ON NCR READY BY AUGUST

KOTA KINABALU: Suhakam is hoping a report on the 10-day National Inquiry on Land Rights of Indigenous People in Malaysia, which ended here on Saturday, can be completed by July or August.

Suhakam Chairman Tan Sri Hasmy Agam said it is premature to make a resolution at the moment, as there needs to be discussion among them, since even the panelists may have different takes on some of the issues.

"We try to speed up the process and if everybody more or less agrees to the general sense in the report with recommendations then maybe we can do it by July or August.

"What is important is that the result will be one that is fair, just and create a win-win situation for all," he said, adding that he would like to prevent a situation where one or two members or experts would want to disassociate themselves from the report.

"The cases are more or less the same all over, such as land infringement and land grabbing from the indigenous perspective while the Government has their own take on the issue, thus it's a very difficult issue but it has to be resolved.

"The sooner the better because we are looking forward to joining in the ranks of developed countries by 2020 and by then, this kind of issues on how we treat or don't treat our indigenous people should not be an issue anymore," he said.

He said almost all the indigenous people ask why should they apply for the land since it's their land, which is actually an old perception.

"They have to know that we are different now and there are rules and regulations but they won't know or understand if it is not explained to them, which is why having dialogues is important," he said.

On another note, he said: "One disappointment faced for the past 11 or 12 years in terms of Suhakam annual reports is that none of the reports were discussed or debated in Parliament.

"Every Suhakam chairman, including myself, have been pressing the government to bring it to Parliament.

"There were undertakings in the last two years with the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of parliamentary affairs, Datuk Nazri Abdul Aziz, who assured me he would discuss with our Speaker of Parliament to find a slot in Parliament," he said.

"If we can't find a slot in parliament which is what we look forward to, then perhaps we could have it discussed in a committee where all members of the political parties are there to discuss."

He said Members of Parliament could pick points from their reports, adding they hope to extend the reports to state assemblies involved in issues concerned, citing Sabah, Sarawak, Pahang, Kelantan and Perak.

Meanwhile, Suhakam Independent Consultant Tan Sri Simon Sipaun applauded the National Inquiry exercise which could draw the attention of the people, government and all civil society groups to the issue.

"I think there will be a lot more awareness of the problem and based on my observation, there needs to be more appreciation and understanding between the complainants because some of their facts and perceptions are not based on what is happening in real life and the same goes for the government.

"I think they need to close the gap between what is the reality and what is perceived and through this two-week National Inquiry, Suhakam has contributed to narrowing the gap between understanding and the reality between the government and the complainant," he said.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Jannie Lasimbang said they have already made this part of the plan for the office in Sabah for various workshops or roundtables to be organised once the report is out.

"Their complaints would be taken and we will follow up on them," she said. (DE)