PARLIAMENT deserves to know why Malaysia failed to be elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council, said Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong.

Liew, who is also DAP National Political Education director, said he will submit a parliamentary question to Foreign Minister Anifah Aman asking him to explain why Malaysia failed in its bid when Parliament convenes on October 24.

“I will be submitting a parliamentary question for Anifah at the first available opportunity to explain why Malaysia failed.

“It is shocking that Malaysia failed in its diplomatic effort and Parliament deserves to know what happened,” he said in a statement.

Malaysia lost to Afghanistan, Nepal, Pakistan and Qatar in its bid for one of 15 seats on the UN Human Rights Council.

This is Qatar’s second consecutive term after winning a re-election vote.

Anifah had previously said that the cost for Malaysia to lobby and campaign for the position should be disclosed in Parliament.

The General Assembly election was carried out via a secret ballot among 193 countries.

The newly elected members to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council are Afghanistan, Angola, Australia, Chile, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Qatar, Senegal, Slovakia, Spain and Ukraine.

All the countries will serve three-year terms beginning January 1, next year till 2020.

This was Malaysia’s third bid for a seat on the council after two stints from 2006 to 2009 and 2010 to 2013.

Malaysia, which received 129 votes, was the only country to lose out as only 16 countries vied for the 15 seats after Maldives’ withdrawal.

Among the five countries that competed for the four Human Rights Council seats allocated to the Asia-Pacific region, Malaysia is second on the freedom rankings.

Created by the General Assembly in 2006, the 47-member council is responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe, and addressing and making recommendations on human rights violations. – October 19, 2017.