Bar Council clears conflicting stance over Abu Talibs appointment
Following contradictory statements made by its chairperson Mah Weng Kwai and its human rights sub-committee, the Bar Council today clarified its stand over the appointment of Abu Talib Othman as the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) chairperson.
Mah had earlier endorsed Abu Talib's appointment which upset several council members, prompting its human rights subcommittee, led by Cecil Rajendra, to say that congratulatory messages should be "put on hold" in the light of Abu Talib's controversial tenure as attorney-general in the 1980s.
However, in a statement today, Mah said Abu Talib's track record "may call into question" the effectiveness and impartiality of Suhakam in its role as an independent human rights monitor.
"A matter of public concern will be Abu Talib's well-known position on issues such as the Internal Security Act 1960 recently (supporting the legislation), as well as during his tenure as attorney-general," said Mah.
He added that Abu Talib and the four new Suhakam commissioners do not have the experience and track record in the field of human rights and as such, may not be compatible with their appointment.
Mah also said the 10,000-strong council views with "grave concern" the non-renewal of the terms of former chief judge Anuar Zainal Abidin, law lecturer Prof Mehrun Siraj and Malaysian Nature Society President Dr Salleh Mohd Noor despite "outstanding service" particularly in carrying out the Kesas Highway inquiry.
It was learnt that the statement was drafted by the human rights subcommittee during a meeting of council members last week.
Negative response
The announcement last month that Abu Talib would be replacing former chairperson Musa Hitam was received negatively by non-governmental organisations and opposition parties.
Abu Talib was said to have previously expressed support for the use of the ISA in detaining members of the opposition during the 1987 Operasi Lalang .
He was also embroiled in several other controversies, including the destruction of vital evidence of the 1989 sex scandal involving DP Vijandran, the then Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker and parliamentary secretary in the Industry and International Trade Ministry.
In an unrelated development, commissioner Prof Mohd Hamdan Adnan said several contract officers will be appointed as legal and investigative officers to assist in Suhakam's duties.
Hamdan, who heads Suhakam's complaints and inquiries working roup, said four or five officers are being interviewed for two-year appointments starting this year.
The move to appoint legal officers is intended to overcome the shortage of legal expertise among the new Suhakam team of commissioners after the contracts of Anuar and Mehrun were not renewed.
Besides Abu Talib, all four other new commissioners did not previously serve in the legal profession.
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