Suhakam's new line-up expected to be leaner

The new lineup of Suhakam commissioners is expected to be leaner than before according to the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz.

There are a total of 16 outgoing commissioners in the current term which will end this Friday.

However the de-facto law minister ( left ) told Malaysiakini to expect only about eight to 10  commissioners to be appointed for the coming term.

According to the new amendment to the Human Rights Commission Act made last year, a commissioner can hold office for three years and is eligible for reappointment once, for another three years only.

This means that all the current commissioners have to step down as they have served at least six years.

The amendment also provides that the maximum number of commissioners to be appointed is 20.

Nazri said that the names of the new commissioners will be released  "as soon as possible".

He said that the commissioners will start as soon as they are appointed and approved by the prime minister.

Still no information

Meanwhile, outgoing Suhakam chairperson Abu Talib Othman, who is one of the members of the selection committee, declined to reveal any information on the new commissioners.

"You should contact the chief secretary to the government, Mohd Sidek Hassan ( right ), as he is the chairman of the committee."

However, the chief secretary could not be reached.  

While the amendment to the Suhakam Act especially with the introduction of a selection committee, had been done to increase the level of transparency, the selection of the incoming commissioners seems blanketed with secrecy.

Nominations have not been open to the public and the process of selection had not been released, although it is only days before the current commissioners will finish their term.

The new line-up is due to start their tenure on Monday but it is expected this will be delayed.