It is shocking to hear Suhakam vice-chairperson Harun Hashim advising the ISA-7 not to be stubborn but to apologise (to be reinstated by their respective universities). Instead of investigating whether human rights of the students had been infringed, Harun has the temerity to echo the patriarchal request of Education Minister Musa Mohamad.

If Suhakam is not able to protect the human rights of students and Malaysians, as it wishfully proclaims, the least it can do is not to insult students with such juvenile remarks. What is there to apologise? Even the court has not ruled that the ISA-7 are guilty!

Suhakam commissioners must ask themselves if their job is to window-dress undemocratic practices of government or to uphold human rights.

All the students have ask for is to be reinstated. By not kowtowing, they have kept their dignity. One wonders if Suhakam has lost that already.