The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) marked its 6th anniversary and Human Rights Day in Malaysia recently by holding a forum in the capital city, with former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad giving the opening address.

A group of 30 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had initially written an open letter to Suhakam urging it to 'close the door' on Mahathir for a simple reason that he had committed a host of 'human wrongs' with regard to human rights at home.

They had provided Suhakam a list of human rights abuses in Bolehland by Mahathir and pointed out that it would be wrong to invite 'a leader who perpetrated extensive human rights violations' during his 22-year political reign.

Surely Suhakam was familiar with Mahathir's record. Its very own findings on his abuse of human rights, especially through the ISA, made it very telling. The revelations of the Royal Commission on the Police Force provided further evidence most compelling.