Task force on institutional reform to be set up soon - Azalina

KUALA LUMPUR - A Special Task Force on Institutional Reform will be set up by the governemnt soon.

This was announced by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Azalina Othman Said, today.

She said the task force will consist of key players with the purpose of conducting a cross-sectoral research and recommending a list of institutional reforms that will be presented to the cabinet.

“We will also continue with the endeavours of the previous administration, to work on the abolishment of mandatory death penalty and substitute it with an appropriate alternative sentence,” she said in her speech at the Human Rights Day Forum 2022 at the Royale Chulan Hotel, here, today.

With the support of Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), she said she believed that each Malaysian will have equal rights in this country.

“For now, Suhakam is responsible for fundamental rights in our country and we will be having a special meeting between the lower and upper house in Parliament so that the cabinet would know Suhakam's role.

”We need to be fair, so let Suhakam make amendments on certain things as they are the expert in the matter,” she said adding that she would continue to fight for human rights in the country.

Asked about an Act that needed to be reviewed, she said she hoped that the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 (Act 711) would be looked into because those who make a disclosure of improper conduct must be protected.

She added that the ministry will look into the act comprehensively.

There were around 350 participants who attended the Human Rights Day Forum 2022 physically while 150 attended it online.

The forum emphasised on human rights, to achieve freedom, dignity and justice.