Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and UN high commissioner for human rights Volker Türk during their meeting today. In the centre is foreign minister Mohamad Hasan. (Facebook pic)
PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he highlighted the importance of human rights and how it aligns with his Malaysia Madani concept during his meeting with United Nations high commissioner for human rights Volker Türk today.
Apart from a meeting with Anwar and several ministers, Türk, who is on his maiden trip to Malaysia as the UN rights chief, met with representatives from the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) and members of civil society organisations.
In a Facebook post, Anwar said the government invited Türk and his delegation to visit Malaysia as part of the country’s ongoing efforts to foster cooperation with the UN.
He said he also wanted to increase awareness about human rights, stressing that it is for “all the rakyat to enjoy together”.
“A country needs to have a vision based on the basic values (to build a) harmonious, prosperous and peaceful society – without forgetting the concept of courtesy and human rights,” he said.
Türk, who held a press conference yesterday, said discussions with the government during his working visit in Malaysia encompassed both business and human rights issues.
He also said Malaysia’s efforts to attract foreign investments could be impacted if business practices did not prioritise human rights.
Türk’s remarks came in response to a query about whether the exploitation of migrant workers would undermine Malaysia’s efforts to attract foreign investments.
The UN had previously voiced concerns about the high number of job scams and human trafficking incidents concerning migrant workers being brought to Malaysia under false pretences by recruitment agencies.
Recent attention has also been drawn to the plight of Bangladeshi migrants in Malaysia, who arrived with hopes of employment through the official labour migration process but found themselves duped without jobs.
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