MARCH 16 — In "A Children’s Commissioner not just by name”, I concluded my thoughts on the appointment of Dr Farah Nini as the Children’s Commissioner under Section 5(2) of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999 (Suhakam Act) with a query, "Where do we go from here?”

I thought the Children’s Commissioner can be more than by name. https://www.malaymail.com/news/what-you-think/2023/03/12/a-childrens-commissioner-not-just-by-namehafiz-hassan/59294

All praise to the All Mighty, the Children’s Commissioner will be more than by name by this year.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Legal and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said has just announced that the government will table a Bill in Parliament that will enable a children commission to function as an independent body.

When asked to give a date for the tabling of the Bill, Azalina said she was hopeful that it would happen this year.

"The whole purpose of the Bill is to make the children’s commissioner a watchdog, and this is in relation to all the children and as you know that one of the biggest challenges is the issue between federal and state law, and also the element of different religions and different laws on the child itself,” she said. https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/03/16/special-law-tabled-by-next-parliament-session-will-give-teeth-to-childrens-commission-says-azalina/59932

Australia, again, offers a model legislation for the establishment of a Commission for Children. In fact, there are no less than seven legislation as each state and territory in Australia – which, like Malaysia, is a federation – has a legislation on the matter.

Victoria, for example, has the Commission for Children and Young People Act 2012 to establish a Commission for Children and Young People and to provide for the functions, powers and duties of the Commission.

The Commission consists of the Principal Commissioner who must be appointed on a full-time basis, and additional Commissioner who may be appointed on a full-time or part-time basis.

If Azalina wishes to "give teeth to the Children’s Commissioner”, then seven model legislations are at her fingertips. https://www.acyp.nsw.gov.au/about/australian-commissioners-and-guardians

We must now applaud Azalina and the Madani government for the commitment to seeing that there is "a special law, which gives the commission permission and freedom to monitor, contribute suggestions and conduct evaluations in terms of assisting the government to bring more good to the children in the country”.

It shows that where there is political will, there is a way.

*This is the personal opinion of the writers or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.