The Bar Council today endorsed the appointment of former attorney-general Abu Talib Othman as the new chairperson of the Malaysian Human Rights Commission or Suhakam.
We hope he can continue with the good work already done by Suhakam as well as improve the standard of human rights in the country, said council chairperson Mah Weng Kwai when contacted.
He added that the council would send a congratulatory message to Abu Talib.
Yesterday, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said the former attorney-general would be succeeding Musa Hitam whose two-year term expires tomorrow. Musa, a former deputy prime minister, declined serving for another term.
The ministry also announced a new line-up of commissioners which include retired Treasury deputy secretary-general Ramon Navaratnam, permanent representative to the United Nations Hasmy Agam, Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (Ikim) director-general Dr Abdul Monir Yaacob, retired Education director-general Asiah Abu Samah and retired National Population and Family Development Board director-general Dr Raj Abdul Karim.
No consultation
Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee chairperson K Ragunath decried the absence of any consultation over the appointments with non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders in human rights interests.
He also questioned the grounds for the non-renewal of the outgoing commissioners who were commended for their contributions in upholding human rights during their tenure.
Commissioners Anuar Zainal Abidin a former Chief Judge of Malaya and Mehrun Siraj were hailed for their report concerning the Nov 5 2000 mass people's gathering, which found the police guilty of using excessive force against the demonstrators.
The other outgoing commissioners are Malaysian Nature Society president Dr Salleh Mohd Noor and former judge Mahadev Shankar. The latter declined to serve another term for health reason.
The government should inform the public on why their contracts were not renewed and the process cannot be based merely on the expiry of their contractual term, Ragunath told malaysiakini .
It is more of public perception. There must be cogent reasons which the public has a right to know.
He said the selection criteria of the commissioners should be made public and the line-up should have included members from non-governmental organisations and the academia who are familiar with human rights issues.
In a related development, human rights group Suaram also questioned why the commissioners who made significant progress in advancing the cause of human rights did not have their terms renewed.
The Suhakam commissioners, much to the chagrin of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had condemned the Internal Security Act, called for greater freedom of expression, including a British-style Speakers Corner and the relaxing of police control on public gatherings.
