Suaram urges Suhakam chair take garden leave amid probe

Suaram reiterated its stand in calling for Suhakam chairperson, Rahmat Mohamad, to take garden leave pending the completion of a probe into allegations levelled against the latter.

This demand follows a complaint lodged by Suhakam deputy secretary Shahizad Sulaiman, accusing Rahmat (above) of racial discrimination and abuse of power.

In response, the chairperson filed a defamation suit against Shahizad, which was later dropped after it courted backlash.

Suhakam also stated that it will conduct an internal probe into the allegations.

In a statement today, Suaram commended Rahmat for withdrawing the suit but voiced concerns that the chairperson’s active role in the commission may compromise the investigation.

“The defamation suit as a response to an internal complaint sent a chilling message – ‘toe the line, else you will pay dearly if you dissent’.

“Even after the suit is withdrawn, as long Rahmat remains in office, both actual and perceived risks of investigation processes being compromised will remain.

“On that note, we renew our call for the chairperson to take garden leave from his duties pending the external investigation’s outcome,” it said.

On June 16, Suaram said the issue could have been dealt with internally, stating that Rahmat’s move could potentially be interpreted as a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (Slapp).

Slapp suits are regarded as using the law to censor, intimidate or silence critics by burdening them with the cost of a legal defence.

Suaram had already urged Rahmat to take garden leave before but doubled down after the latter seems uninterested.

Meanwhile, Suaram also stressed that the task force responsible for the investigation must be an external team.

It said the investigative body should have no vested interest in the institution or the parties involved in the defamation suit to guarantee objectivity and fairness of the inquiry.

Suaram also urged Suhakam to disclose the identity of the external independent body tasked with investigating the allegations.

“As a national human rights institution that is also the guiding force behind the nation’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, Suhakam must demonstrate accountability and transparency,” Suaram said. - Mkini