I find Augustine Paul's statement over Suhakam quite inappropriate as Suhakam is not a party to the habeas corpus proceedings (Judge says ISA in national interest, quashes bid to free 5, April 25).

Suhakam has a particular mandate under the Human Rights Commission Act and there is no application before the learned High Court judge to decide on Suhakam's mandate!

Human rights culture and jurisprudence has not been given its proper day in our courts. This gap in most judicial systems has encouraged the setting up of human rights commissions worldwide post the 1993 Vienna World Conference on Human Rights.

At present I believe that it will be civil society, activists and human rights commissions who will take the lead in the building of the human rights culture and jurisprudence. The same must be said for Malaysia.