COMMENT | Suhakam, our national human rights statutory body, is currently without a chairman and commissioners.

The previous chairman, Tan Sri Razali Ismail, resigned 2 weeks before the end of his term on 27 April 2019. Meanwhile, the last batch of commissioners ended their respective terms at the end of April 2019. The Government has not re-appointed them, or appointed a new batch of Commissioners.

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) is a statutory body created by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999 (Act 597).

The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the recommendation of the Prime Minister who shall, before tendering his advice, consult a committee set up by the Act.

The commissioners, including the chairman, serve for a term of 3 years, and are eligible for reappointment, once, for another period of three years.

The members of the Commission shall be appointed from amongst men and women of various religious, political and racial backgrounds who have knowledge of, or practical experience in, human rights matters...