The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) has failed to identify the right to an independent judiciary and the rule of law among its list of prominent human right concerns, according to an opposition leader.

DAP national chairman Lim Kit Siang said while he welcomed Suhakam's "unrestrictive definition" of the term "human rights", it is most unfortunate that it has omitted the human right to a competent, independent and impartial judiciary, and the rule of law.

Lim was commenting on Suhakam's complaints procedure with guidelines spelling out the definition of the term "human rights" ("[#1] Suhakam hopes to meet with judges soon[/#] ", June 26) outlined yesterday.

The procedure defines the various types of complaints the commission can inquire into, the ways to submit complaints, the criteria for complaints admissibility and the process of inquiry itself.

According to Lim, the right to justice as a precondition to protect and promote human rights has been repeatedly declared and upheld in international human rights instruments, whether the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or the International Covenants on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and on Civil and Political Rights.

"I hope the commission can make amends in this important omission and spell out loud and clear that the right to the rule of law and a competent, independent and impartial judiciary, and factors which undermine their realisation, are among the commission's priority concerns," he said.