In a statement today, Suhakam firstly acknowledged the inclusion of two child representatives in the proposed National Council for Children.

“If properly implemented, it will promote the involvement of children in the decision-making process in matters affecting them.

“We hope that their views and concerns would be taken seriously and that the discretionary powers of the minister to revoke the membership of the child representatives are clearly defined to avoid any misuse of power,” the statement read.

The commission welcomed the substitution of punishment by whipping of male children with community service but expressed its concern over not abolishing caning in primary and secondary schools.

“Caning not only amounts to cruel punishment, but also violates the rights of the child and contradicts the principles of the CRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) that specifically requires state agencies to protect children from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment,” it said.

Suhakam also pointed out that there were no specific penal laws in Malaysia to cover holistically the issue of child pornography and urged the government to consider introducing specific provisions under the Child Act or the Penal Code to address the issue.

Apart from that, it also called for the government to prohibit marriages involving those aged below 18.

“We urge the government to amend all domestic laws to raise the legal age of marriage for all to 18, to be in compliance with the Child Act which defines children as those below the age of 18,” it said.

The amended Child Act was passed in Parliament earlier this month. Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Azizah Mohd Dun said it was in the best interests of children.