The Bar Council today called on the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to break its silence over the recent mass arrest of asylum seekers, including women and children, in Kuala Lumpur.

"Suhakam being the statutory watchdog of human rights observance in this country cannot remain silent, said its chairperson Kuthubul Zaman Bukhari in a statement.

"It must take the lead in urging the government to comply with human rights standards, whenever full observance is lacking, such as in this instance," he added.

On Tuesday, the police detained about 250 asylum seekers, mostly Acehnese, outside the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) office.