Human rights competency missing in Suhakam's new line-up

 

The announcement by the government on the appointment of the new Suhakam commissioners for the 2022-2025 term took effect on June 22.

The new members are Rahmat Mohamad, UKM law lecturer Noor Aziah Mohd Awal (reappointed), former Islamic Development Department (Jakim) head Mohamad Nordin Ibrahim, Dr Chew Chee Ming, former Sabah attorney-general Mariaty Robert, lawyer Hasnal Rezua Merican Habib Merican, lawyer Nazira Abdul Rahim, and former Bar Council president K Ragunath.

Suhakam was created 22 years ago to play the role of an official, independent oversight body that is in line with the International UN Paris Principles. Over the years, the commission has pushed its standards to get stronger and better in its operations and functions.

Human rights “for all” realisation is the primary duty and obligation of the government. It is the function of an independent and courageous body like Suhakam to monitor and inform the government and public about its progress.

Appointment processes are the most important start to ensure good commissioners are given the mandate to run Suhakam. The recent announcement by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's government is a shock to the CSO Platform for Reform.

The majority of new names submitted do not inspire confidence among the civil society organisations in upholding the principles of the universality of human rights for everyone in this country.

The new chairperson, Rahmat, co-authored a paper that objected to Malaysia's ratification of the Rome Statute and ICERD. He was one of the four academics who convinced the Conference of Rulers to reject the Rome Statute.

Suhakam chairperson Rahmat Mohamad

This situation is not in line with Suhakam’s mandate to advise the government on treaty ratifications. We are also surprised the previous chairperson with good experience in human rights and international diplomacy was not retained.

Mohamad Nordin, meanwhile, denies LGBTQI+ rights through the cancellation of a gender and sexuality conference in Kuala Lumpur. LGBTQI+ group have long suffered discrimination.

Appointments not inclusive

While the prime minister called the appointments inclusive, it is definitely not the case. There are two commissioners who are active politicians in Umno in the line-up.

Nazira is the women’s chief of the Kulim-Bandar Baharu Umno division and Bandar Baharu municipal councillor, while Hasnal is the Selayang Umno deputy division chief.

We want independent people who can perform their functions well. Active party members definitely don’t fit the bill.

A quick check on Chew shows that he is a consultant anaesthetist, with no known background in human rights work in the Malaysian society context, apart from his work as a medical practitioner.

This is a far cry from the past commissioner Madeline Berma, who has represented Sarawak and Suhakam excellently and is a familiar and well-respected name among academics, state and federal government, and civil society alike.

CSO Platform for Reform would like to seek public information on the selection process to know if the following criteria were met in the appointment of the commissioners:

• Credible background that is worth promoting, defending and protecting human rights in Malaysia. This includes considering candidates with a proven record of expertise in the relevant area (for example, through relevant work experience, publications and other achievements on human rights issues and concerns).

• Selection that adopts a more diverse and inclusive list from a wide variety of expertise and representation and not just those with legal backgrounds.

• As the process is not transparent, it is time to have an independent mechanism for the appointment of Suhakam commissioners that includes parliaments and/or independent individuals who will inspire confidence rather than quiet secrecy that is suspicious from its inception, without an iota of information provided.

  How many were selected, who were shortlisted, what were the criteria utilised and who was selected as the Selection Committee and what was their expertise to this body?

  It is highly recommended that Parliament Select Committees play a critical role in opening a better accountable mechanism and include best practices models such as Indonesia where their process is rigorous and with much public scrutiny.

Human rights belong to all

In conclusion, Suhakam as an independent body holds the key responsibility that human rights in Malaysia should never be compromised at any cost by the government; and human rights belong to all and not just the privileged few decided by the majority in power in the country.

The last commissioners defended the accreditation of Suhakam status well, and we fear that will now be sullied by a team of weak commissioners at play. Please do not regress and please do not add any shame to our difficult record of human rights in Malaysia and globally.

We cannot stand proud in the UN Human Rights Council while playing weak domestic politics to the detriment of human rights in Malaysia.

We are baffled how did the selection process go under the purview of the Legal Affairs Division in the Prime Minister’s Department.

We demand answers from this government, especially from the prime minister, ministers and all his special advisers in charge.

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CSO Platform for Reform is a coalition of 102 CSOs working on institutional reforms.

1. Malaysian Care
2. Projek Wawasan Rakyat
3. Advancing Knowledge in Democracy and Law
4. Non-Timber Forests Products - Exchange Programme, Malaysia
5. Civica Research
6. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor
7. Centre for Independent Journalism
8. Agora Society Malaysia
9. Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy
10. Pusat Komas
11. Persatuan Pendidikan D'wira Kuching
12. Community Action Network
13. Society for Equality, Respect And Trust for All Sabah
14. Sabah Reform Initiative
15. Persatuan Kebajikan Sokongan Keluarga, Selangor dan Kuala Lumpur
16. Third World Network
17. Suara Rakyat Malaysia
18. Our Journey
19. Malaysian CSO SDG Alliance
20. Beyond Borders Malaysia
21. HealthEquity Initiatives and Solutions Bhd
22. Sisters in Islam
23. Treat Every Environment Special Sdn Bhd
24. All Women's Action Society
25. Partners of Community Organisations
26. Empower Malaysia (Pusat Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor)
27. Persatuan Promosi Hak Asasi Manusia
28. Tenaganita
29. Engage Network
30. Freedom Film Network
31. Justice For Sisters
32. Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs
33. Amnesty International Malaysia
34. Penang Forum
35. Galen Centre for Health & Social Policy
36. Sustainable Development Network Malaysia
37. Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control
38. Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia
39. Advocates for Non-Discrimination and Access to Knowledge
40. Persatuan Penumpang Pengangkutan Awam Pulau Pinang (PeTUA)
41. Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia
42. Monsoons Malaysia
43. Women's Aid Organisation
44. ENGENDER Consultancy
45. The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih)
46. Childline Foundation
47. Protect and Save the Children
48. Inisiatif Pengislahan Pendidikan Nasional
49. Eliminating Deaths And Abuse In Custody Together (Edict)
50. Malaysian Digital Economy Consumer Association
51. Pergerakan Tenaga Akademik Malaysia (Gerak)
52. Association of Women Lawyers
53. Pertubuhan Alam Sekitar Sejahtera Malaysia
54. Project Liber8
55. Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights
56. Sabah Human Rights Centre
57. Persatuan Penduduk Petaling Jaya 2017 (MYPJ)
58. Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia
59. North South Initiative
60. Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia
61. Penang stop human trafficking campaign
62. The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism
63. Lawyer Kamek for Change
64. The KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Women Division
65. Persatuan Pemangkin Daya Masyarakat
66. Save Rivers
67. Asylum Access Malaysia
68. Malaysia Muda
69. Diversity Malaysia
70. Development of Human Resources for Rural Areas (DHRRA), Malaysia
71. Merdeka Center for Opinion Research
72. Pertubuhan Muafakat Sabah
73. G25 Malaysia
74. Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia
75. Misi: Solidariti
76. KRYSS Network
77. Persatuan Keadilan dan Kesedaran Iklim Malaysia (Klima Action Malaysia)
78. Collective of Applied Law & Legal Realism
79. Terabai Kenyalang Heritage Association of Sarawak
80. Undi Sabah
81. Stateless Children Family Support Group
82. People.Association. Development. Education for Penan Sarawak
83. Persatuan Anak Istimewa Sarawak (Perais)
84. University of Malaya Association of NewYouth
85. Persatuan Jaringan Komuniti Inklusif Sabah (Inclusive Community Network Sabah)
86. The Tiada.Guru Campaign
87. Undi 18
88. Cahaya Society
89. Borneo Komrad
90. Engineers Without Borders Malaysia
91. Suara Community Filmmaking
92. Sabah Environmental Protection Association
93. Etania Schools Sabah
94. Pertubuhan Kota Kita Sabah
95. Ezplast Solution Sdn Bhd
96. Belia Di Bawah Bayu
97. Pertubuhan Professional Suluk
98. Pertubuhan Rumah Kebajikan Kanak-Kanak Home of Peace KL
99. Kudat Turtle Conservation Society
100. Save Malaysia Stop Lynas
101. Iskul Sama DiLaut Omadal
102. Malaysian Sign Language and Deaf Studies Association

- Mkini

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.