PUTRAJAYA should swiftly appoint new Suhakam commissioners to continue to address human rights issues in the country, Mah Weng Kwai said.

The former commissioner of the Malaysian Human Rights Commission said the tenure for all the nine commissioners had ended yesterday and it was crucial that the government selected new commissioners promptly.

He said the delay could be damaging to the work of Suhakam in advocating and maintaining the best standards of human rights for the country.

“There are now no commissioners at Suhakam and to date there has been no reappointment nor appointment of new commissioners.

“Work at Suhakam has come to a grinding halt, except for work management and administration staff,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Mah said there were nine commissioners, which included the Suhakam chairman and a commissioner for children’s affairs.

“Five of the commissioners have completed two terms of three years each and are not eligible for extension.

“The other four commissioners have completed their first term of three years and under the Suhakam Act they are eligible to be reappointed.”

When contacted, Suhakam confirmed that the tenure of all nine commissioners had ended yesterday.

Commissioners who have completed their two terms with Suhakam are Mah, Jerald Joseph, Dr Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Saleh, Lok Yim Pheng and Godfrey Gregory Joitol.

The remaining commissioners who have completed their first term are Othman Hashim, Dr Madeline Berma Mohd Hishamuddin Md Yunus and Noor Aziah Mohd Awal (Children Commissioner).

Mah said that he was disappointed that Putrajaya has not appointed the commissioners to take over well in advance before the term ended.

He said that only one selection committee meeting was held last Monday.

“Going by precedent, what happened three years ago was when I finished my first term in April 2019, it took two months for me to be reappointed.

“I’m sure the appointment of commissioners is not difficult. I don’t understand why the government has left it to the 11th hour to hold the selection process?”

“They (government) can even appoint more commissioners as the law allows for up to 20 commissioners.”

Mah added that he wants Suhakam to keep up the momentum of good work on the protection of human rights.

He said that Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob appoints commissioners on the advice of the selection committee which is chaired by the chief secretary to the government. – April 27, 2022.