 | |
| Founded | 5 August 1989 |
|---|---|
| Type | (registered as company[1]) Non-profit NGO |
| Location |
|
| Services | Advocacy and practice of Human Rights |
| Fields | Human Rights, Environment Rights, Activism |
Key people | Kua Kia Soong (Director), Sevan Doraisamy (Executive Director) |
| Website | www |
Suara Rakyat Malaysia, better known by its abbreviation SUARAM (Malay for "Voice of the Malaysian People"), is a human rights organisation in Malaysia created in 1987 after Operation Lalang, when 106 opposition, unions, activist leaders were detained without trial under the Internal Security Act. In 1989, the detainee support group, ISA detainees and other activist groups decided to form SUARAM, whose primary object was to campaign for the abolition of the ISA and detention without trial. SUARAM later evolved into other areas of human rights and environmental rights.
Suaram is considered one of the leading human rights organisations in Malaysia. Other general human rights organisations in Malaysia include the Penang-based Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN), HAKAM (National Human Rights Society) and many others. Suaram has often worked with these organisations on a minimal platform of co-operation on issues such as the abolishment of the Internal Security Act (ISA) and electoral reform. The secretariat in KL also publishes an annual report on the status of civil and political rights in Malaysia since 1998.[2]
Suaram is a founding member of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA).[3]
According to SUARAM's website, "SUARAM is an independent and a human rights organisation which is not linked to any other agencies. We will always be on the side of victims of human rights violations, the poor and the oppressed, without fear or favour. Its mandate is enshrined in the Malaysian Human Rights Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Thus SUARAM's main objective is the protection and realisation of human rights in Malaysia regardless of the government-of-the-day."(http://www.suaram.net/?page_id=4377)
SUARAM is funded by donations and grants from public and private sources. However, the most important source comes from private donations, local fund-raising events, sales of books and campaign merchandise. Funds are accepted strictly on the basis of non-interference of donors.
- ^ (in Malay) Tuesday 28 August 2012 MYT 10:10:00 PM Suaram Dedah Sumber Pembiayaannya
- ^ 20 Years Defending Human Rights. SUARAM. 2009. p. 3.
- ^ Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development - Contact Archived 2 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine