Outgoing Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) chairperson Musa Hitam said he is leaving his position very happily as he will be able to relax after his two-year tenure as the human rights adviser to the government.

Musa, whose term expires today, said Suhakam under his leadership was very constructive as the government had implemented quite a number of the bodys proposals.

The most difficult part will be political and civil rights as they evoke a lot of passion among the people, he said in reference to the challenges facing the new Suhakam team.

While officially handing over his tasks to new commissioner Abu Talib Othman at Suhakams Kuala Lumpur office, Musa said he was reasonably happy with the new appointments but did not want to overplay his confidence.

Abu Talib [is someone] I knew and worked together with before. When I was deputy prime minister, he was the attorney-general..holding the highest post in the administration of the judiciary, said Musa.

He added that Abu Talibs former appointment as an adviser to the government represents a good start to his tenure in office, and said he will continue, when necessary, to exchange views with the new commissioner.

Situations vacant

With regard to his future plans, Musa who had always maintained that he was a reluctant chairperson to the human rights body, said he might be looking through situations vacant pages in newspapers.

Four other outgoing commissioners are former chief judge Anuar Zainal Abidin, law lecturer Prof Mehrun Siraj, Malaysian Nature Society president Dr Salleh Mohd Noor and former judge Mahadev Shankar.

Besides Abu Talib, the new commissioners are 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.