Sept 15, 2009, Tuesday - KUALA LUMPUR: Several Sara-wak non-governmental organisations, claiming to fight for the cause of Penan girls and women who were allegedly raped, have refused to assist police in their investigations.

Sept 10, 2009, Thu - KUALA LUMPUR: Human rights violations continue to occur almost on a daily basis in Malaysia, says Suhakam chairman Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman.

As an advisory body without executive power, he said, there was nothing Suhakam could do to ensure the Government responded to and acted upon on its recommendations.

Key events in the history of Suhakam and human rights in Malaysia over the last decade

Sept 9, 1999: The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999, Act 597 was passed and Suhakam was established.

April 24, 2000: Suhakam held its inaugural meeting, under the chairmanship of Tun Musa Hitam.

Sept 6, 2009, Sun - Q: The concern has always been the politicisation of the ISA. Now, the ISA is being politicised by groups demanding its repeal. How do you see it?

A: Yes, there is a tendency for ISA to be politicised by certain groups. Of course, it was an Act enacted way back in the 1960s for purposes of national security and our main concern then, among other matters, was the communist threat. It is time for this Act to be reviewed and we have already agreed to do that. So why was there a need to create trouble and protests in the streets, and make life so difficult for others? It was very disappointing, especially after we had said that the ISA would be looked at with a fresh perspective taking into account the changing times and changing security issues.

Sept 6, 2009, Sun - Give the people more freedom, says a commissioner. We are a free country, says a minister.

FROM the beginning, a very limited amount of authority was invested in Suhakam by the government,” says Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim, who has served on the commission since 2004.