KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Amendment) Bill 2023, which aims to provide additional powers to the commission in dealing with human rights matters relating to children), was tabled for first reading at the Dewan Rakyat today.
The bill was tabled by Minister in the Prime Ministers Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (pix), and will provide for the appointment of a Children’s Chief Commissioner and two Children’s Commissioners from the Commission’s members to deal with human rights matters relating to children.
Azalina also tabled the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters (Amendment) Act 2023 to improve the provisions of the Act in providing mutual assistance in criminal matters between Malaysia and other countries.
The amendment will enable the Attorney-General to make a request for assistance in a criminal matter directly to the relevant authority as determined by a foreign State under certain circumstances, including where there is no Malaysian Embassy, High Commission, Consulate General or Consulate office in the foreign State or where the request needs to be executed expeditiously.
Meanwhile, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin has also tabled Universities and University Colleges (Amendment) Act 2023 for first reading at the Parliament today, which is to allow collection of money and receipt of money and other contributions by the Students’ Representative Council and student body of the University. –Bernama
