29 July 2020

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Human rights abuses related to business activity are not only of concern in the palm oil sector. Malaysia is a major destination for migrant workers. […] There have been persistent reports of the violation of migrant workers rights, including having to work long hours in poor conditions, inadequate rest or pay, as well as the seizing of workers’ passports by employers. Female workers, often employed in domestic work, are particularly vulnerable to abuses and often become victims of sexual harassment […]

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A study published earlier this year by the Danish Institute for Human Rights argues that National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) have a unique role to play in promoting the UNGPs. […]

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While these beginnings raised doubts about what Suhakam could achieve, the Commission has certainly made important contributions to the Malaysian human rights movement. The Commission did so by addressing issues such as preventive detention and in particular the draconian Internal Security Act (which was eventually repealed in 2012 as a result of concerted civil society activism), freedom of association, and lending public support to the reformasi movement. This was a novelty in Malaysia, where human rights activists had previously not experienced such actions from a government body.

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Despite the efforts undertaken by Suhakam and civil society actors, much work remains to be done to further the business and human rights agenda in Malaysia. A key constraint in this respect is the absence of a broader commitment to address human rights abuses in the country. […]

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