BY LOH FOON FONG
KUALA LUMPUR: The task force set up to study the Human Rights Commission’s (Suhakam) report on native land rights issues is expected to deliver its findings by the end of the month.
According to Suhakam chairman Tan Sri Hasmy Agam, some of its recommendations in its National Inquiry into the Land Rights of Indigenous Peopleswould be rejected, while others might take time to implement.
“We hope that by the end of this month, there would be a report and we will know how much (of its recommendations) will be taken into consideration,” he said during a press conference after launching the Suhakam 2013 Annual Report here yesterday.
Suhakam conducted the inquiry following numerous complaints as well as memoranda from the indigenous community on the violation of their rights, especially on customary land rights.
More than 6,500 indigenous peoples participated in the public consultations during the 18-month long inquiry that began in June 2011.
The final report was completed in April last year.
Following the inquiry, Suhakam came up with 18 recommendations, including recognising indigenous customary rights to land, as well as having redress mechanisms for land loss and preventing future loss of native customary land rights.
Acknowledging that the natives had been sidelined for far too long, Hasmy said Suhakam would hold a campaign to get the findings and recommendations adopted by the relevant authorities if the report was rejected.
However, he added that this should not be seen as Suhakam having prejudged the task force.
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