Suhakams top task is to restore public confidence
The top agenda of two-year-old Human Rights Commission, or Suhakam, is to regain confidence from the Bar Council, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and opposition parties.
DAP leader Lim Kit Siang today said that the matter should be taken seriously by the new commissioners after the Bar Council expressed its "grave concern" over the appointment of Abu Talib Othman as Suhakam's chairman, as well as the non-renewal of three key commissioners.
"Abu Talib and Suhakam commissioners should respond positively to the Bar Council as the chairman's background, who does not have good track record in human rights, might not be compatible to the task ahead," said Lim in a statement.
Bar Council chairman Mah Weng Kwai said yesterday that 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 the head of the 10,000-strong legal body.
Reinstate three key commissioners
Lim, quoting malaysiakini report yesterday, also said the appointment of three legal officers as legal and investigative officers to overcome the shortage of legal expertise among new Suhakam commissioners will not match the expertise of former commissioners Anuar Zainal Abidin, Mehrun Siraj and Dr Salleh Mohamad Noor.
Anuar is former chief judge of Malaya and was a member of the Federal Court while Mehrun was dean of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's law faculty. Salleh is president of Malaysian Nature Society.
Lim is of the opinion that the Suhakam complaints and inquiry working group, headed by Prof Hamdan Adnan and Zainah Anwar is quite weak.
"If the government is serious in wanting Suhakam to have teeth, it should reappoint Anuar, Mehrun and Salleh," said Lim.
Talk to NGOs
The former opposition chief also urged Suhakam to invite the 32 NGOs which boycotted it for 100 days for a dialogue in order to bring back public confidence in the organisation.
On May 4, the NGOs announced a 100-day boycott of Suhakam by suspending all engagements with the human rights body.
According to Hakam president Ramdas Tikamdas, the boycott was to protest the government's poor response to Suhakam's numerous recommendations thus far.
He added that the government's failure to adhere to the commission's recommendations creates the impression that Suhakam is nothing but "a mere public relations tool".
They also expressed concern on Suhakam's independence following the appointment of Abu Talib as the body's new chief and the decision not to renew the appointments of three key commissioners — Anuar, Mehrun and Salleh.
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