PUTRAJAYA and all its ministers have to be more engaging with civil society groups on human rights and other issues, Suhakam commissioner Jerald Joseph said.

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) officer said that not engaging with stakeholders is not an option anymore on modern governance mechanisms.

“When Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob took office, he gave a strong warning (to his ministers) that he wants results in 100 days.

“This is a serious sign that there can’t be governance as usual,” he said during the “20 Years Post-Durban Declaration: Is Malaysia spearheaded in the right direction?” forum.

On August 27, Ismail said his new cabinet must have a high-performance work culture.

He said that each ministry would need to prove its short-term achievements within the first 100 days.

Ismail also said that each ministry must make short- and long-term plans to achieve set targets, more so as the country is fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.

Joseph said the government has to have a framework of accountability and engage the people who matter most.

“If the ministers or their officers are too shy to engage, then there is something wrong.

“This (not engaging) is tactics of the old. So, there is a need for a more open government on all levels and on all ministries.”

He added that it was crucial for the government to engage the stakeholders as they have the power and were duty bound to respond to human rights issues.

“I hope that this message is seen as a positive call on all ministries and ministers to sit together more regularly and have an institutional framework with civil society groups.” – September 23, 2021.