A/HRC/11/L.10
page 170
693. Since independence, policies had been implemented for the benefit of the people. In the
light of the current global economic and financial crisis, the Government continued to believe
that policies that underscored the importance of achieving socio-economic and development
goals as a way of ensuring unity remained vitally important.
694. Detailed comments and explanations provided by Malaysia on recommendations are
available in document A/HRC/11/30/Add.1. On the issue of preventive detention legislation, the
Government had decided, in early April 2009, to undertake a comprehensive study with a view
to reviewing the Internal Security Act. For this purpose, a working committee had been
established at the Ministry of Home Affairs. Since Malaysia’s review in February 2009, the
Government had released a significant number of persons previously detained under the Act.
695. Malaysia was considering inviting the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to make a
country visit. The Government was in the process of finalizing a national child policy, a national
child protection policy and the relevant plans of action. Serious efforts had been made to review
some reservations to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women with a view to lifting them. With regard to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a
technical committee had been established to study the possibility of withdrawing reservations,
which was expected to be considered before the end of 2009. The Government was in the
process of amending the Child Act 2001 in order to implement the recommendations of the
Committee on the Rights of the Child. The proposed amendments included the extension of
powers of child protection teams, broadening the scope of coverage to include victims of
trafficking, and the repeal of corporal punishment sentences for children, replacing them with
community service orders. An additional M$81.1 million had been allocated to enhance a
community-based rehabilitation programme for children with disabilities.
696. Malaysia had developed gender-awareness programmes, which included books explaining
to children that girls should enjoy the same rights as boys, as outlined in the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
697. With a view to enhancing the transparency and independence of Malaysia’s national
human rights commission (SUHAKAM), in April 2009, the Government amended
the 1999 SUHAKAM Act. The amendments refined the criteria for the appointment and
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