FIRST PUBLIC HEARINGS ON LAND RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ON FEB 27 TO MARCH 14

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- The first series of Public Hearings for

the National Inquiry into the Land Rights of Indigenous People in Malaysia will

be held from Feb 27 to March 14 in Sarawak.

Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) chairman Tan Sri Hasmy Agam

said more than 100 witnesses were scheduled to appear before a three-member

panel of inquiry chaired by him.

He will be assisted by commisioners Detta Samen, James Nayagam and

independent consultants Datuk Ranita Mohd Hussein and Andrew Khoo.

He said the public hearings would be held at Dewan Masyarakat Serian from

Feb 27 to March 1, Dewan Suarah Sibu (March 3-5), Dewan Suarah Bintulu (March

7-10) and Dewan Suarah Miri (March 12-14).

Subsequent public hearings on the same topic would be held in the peninsula

between April to May, and in Sabah in June this year, Hasmy said in a statement

here today.

He said the national inquiry was conducted persuant to the various

complaints and memoranda received by the commission since its inception, which

was in accordance to section 12(1) of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia

Act 1999.

"It will enable the commission to identify problems faced by the indigenous

communities as enshrined in the Federal Constitution and international

procedures," he said.

-- BERNAMA

YAM NAK GR