THE legal affairs division under the Prime Minister’s Department said Rahmat Mohamad will resign as chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), effective August 31. 

In a statement, the department said Putrajaya will appoint a temporary chairman soon to ensure Suhakam runs smoothly during this transitional period. 

This, the department said, was so that the selected person can carry out the chairman’s duties until a new chairman is appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. 

In July, Suhakam staff urged the Legal and Institutional Reform Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said to investigate their chairman.  

Twenty Suhakam employees had accused Rahmat of power abuse and racial discrimination.  

A letter sighted by The Malaysian Insight showed that the staff had written to Azalina on May 18 seeking her assistance.

Rahmat, a legal and human rights expert from Universiti Teknologi Mara, was appointed to head the organisation on June 22 last year. 

“The appointment coincided with his background in the field of international law as well as his experience as the fifth secretary-general of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization.”

Rahmat is currently the chairman of the Asian International Arbitration Centre Advisory Board for the 2023-2025 session. – August 29, 2023.