KUALA LUMPUR — The government is pressing ahead with wide-ranging legal and institutional reforms, including the creation of a Human Rights Tribunal, the strengthening of Parliament’s independence, and the overhaul of key laws, said Law and Institutional Reforms Deputy Minister M. Kulasegaran.
Kulasegaran said among the most significant initiatives is a proposed Human Rights Tribunal designed to provide ordinary citizens with a cost-free and accessible avenue to seek redress, addressing long-standing concerns over the limited powers of existing oversight bodies.
Speaking during a Trick Lama podcast episode hosted by Big Boom Media Chief Executive Officer Datuk Zainul Arifin and Group Editor-in-Chief Terence Fernandez, he said a final report detailing the tribunal’s structure and operational mechanics has been submitted and is now being prepared for Cabinet consideration.
“As I’m talking to you today, only today they submitted the final report to me,” he said.
“I’m going to work on the draft and submit it to the minister, who will then take it to the Cabinet for the necessary approval.”
Kulasegaran acknowledged public dissatisfaction with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), which many perceive as lacking enforcement authority.
“Many of us in Malaysia will say SUHAKAM is a toothless tiger,” he said. “So we want to give some form of bite to the tribunal.”
He said the tribunal would allow ordinary citizens to appear before it without the cost and complexity associated with court proceedings.
While the question of punitive authority remains under consideration, Kulasegaran said the ministry agrees in principle, subject to ministerial and Cabinet approval.
“The tribunal will play a very vital role because the ordinary layman can have a right to appear before a tribunal,” he said.
Beyond human rights reforms, Kulasegaran highlighted the Parliamentary Services Act 2025 as a landmark development restoring Parliament’s autonomy and reinforcing the separation of powers between the executive, judiciary and legislature.
“For many years, Parliament was a department under a ministry. It didn’t make sense,” he said.
“Now finally, we have passed the law.”
He said the Act would give Parliament greater control over finances and policymaking under the Speaker’s supervision, with administrative and staffing mechanisms expected to be implemented within six months to a year.
Kulasegaran also cited a series of major legislative changes introduced under the current administration, including the abolition of the mandatory death penalty and life imprisonment, amendments to the Legal Profession Act introducing limited liability partnerships, Penal Code amendments criminalising cyberbullying that leads to death, updates to the Online Safety Act, and the approval of the Legal Aid and Public Defence Bill.
“These are fundamental changes,” he said.
However, Kulasegaran conceded that public awareness of these reforms has not kept pace with their significance, attributing this to communication shortcomings and the technical nature of legislative reform.
“Maybe the publicity is not good enough,” he said, adding that law reforms require extensive consultation with stakeholders, including civil society groups, legal experts and government agencies.
“It is not that easy,” he said. “It takes time.”
Despite criticism over the pace of reform, Kulasegaran maintained that meaningful changes are being implemented and urged the public to recognise the progress being made.
“These are changes that are happening,” he said. – December 20, 2025