Without HR Commissioners, SUHAKAM cannot do anything - the powers are with the HR Commissioners. See earlier post...and now it is going to be about 52 days ..see earlier post.
NO Human Rights Commissioners in Malaysia for past 37 days - Is government not committed to HR?
If there were HR Commissioners, SUHAKAM would have been SPEAKING UP about the various Human Rights issues... maybe about the Orang Asli rights when it was highlighted that about 15 had dies and the sad state of their living situation...maybe about the detention conditions at Immigration Detention Centres and prisons ... They may have also made an immediate visit to some of the Immigration Detention Centres...they may have even decided to start a public inquiry on some of these issues....
68 year old Singaporean sues Malaysia's Immigration Dept for RM2.67m over 'inhuman’/wrongful detention? Time for prison reforms?
HUMAN RIGHTS in Malaysia suffers...and it is all Malaysians hope that the new Chairman and HR Commissioners will be following the ways of the previous Chairman and Commissioners...remember that they were brave enough to even announce their finding that points the finger at the Malaysian police(the Special Branch) as being responsible for enforced disappearance...
After an extensive public inquiry, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) announced today that the Special Branch, the special police intelligence team from Bukit Aman, was involved in the abduction of pastor Raymond Koh, similar to that of activist Amri Che Mat. - Victims of Enforced Dissapearance by police officers - Amri and Pastor Koh? HR Commission's findings
Will the next Chairman and Commissioners be equally strong to uphold human rights without fear or favour....or will they be 'cautious' or 'diplomatic' - not to be seen pointing the finger at the government or the police for its failures to protect and promote human rights...They will, of course, speak out at the procrastination to repeal the bad laws and provisions...
Who will the PH government select and the King appoint? This will be indicative of their commitment to Human Rights ...would it not?
Sadly, I have not seen any reported comment by the Minister or the PM ...or the government as to the reasons for the delay? Even the MPs who hold themselves out as Human Rights advocates seems to be silent on this major issue ...WHY?
Leaderless Suhakam ‘a sign of flagging PH commitment’
PETALING JAYA: The federal government has been accused of slowing
down its commitment towards better human rights by allowing the human
rights commission, Suhakam, to go leaderless for two months.
The accusation came from Denison Jayasooria, a Suhakam commissioner
from 2006-2010, who said the Pakatan Harapan administration must explain
why new commissioners and a chairman have not been appointed to take
charge of Suhakam for two months.
Suhakam’s previous chairman, Razali Ismail, resigned two weeks before
the end of his term, following an inquiry by the commission into a
pastor and two religious activists. Suhakam accused the police of being
involved in their abductions.
On April 25, seven commissioners ended their three-year terms of
office. The commissioners – Lok Yim Pheng, Mah Weng Kwai, Aishah Bidin,
Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Saleh, Francis Johen, Godfrey Gregory Joitol and
Jerald Joseph – have served a maximum of two terms as commissioners and
cannot be reappointed.
Jayasooria, who is also a human rights activist and academician,
said: “Term periods are fixed and the government must have known the
time needed for renewals. There should not be gaps.”
“For institutional reforms (to take place), these commissions must
not be without their leaders,” he told FMT, noting that a gap in service
had also happened with the Election Commission earlier this year.
In 2016, prior to Razali taking over as chairman, Suhakam was left without a chairman and any commissioners for 58 days.
“I understand it is about selecting the right chairman,” another
former commissioner told FMT.
“Normally the chair serves for two terms
for a total of six years (but) with (the) sudden resignation of the past
chairman, the process has become stuck.”
Jayasooria urged the Parliamentary Select Committee for Rights and Gender Equality to look into the matter.
Jayasooria said the annual Suhakam report had yet to be debated in
Parliament, despite it being an election promise by Pakatan Harapan in
2018. “This must be a priority for the coming Parliament meeting in
July,” he said.
Suhakam sources told FMT last week that the closing date for
applications for appointment as a commissioner was in November last
year, and a selection committee had met earlier this year.
Under the Suhakam Act, the committee is headed by the Chief Secretary
to the government, the former Suhakam chairman and three other
independent persons. The committee submits a list of candidates for the
Prime Minister to recommend to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
FMT has contacted the office of Chief Secretary to the Government Ismail Bakar and is waiting for a response.
Suhakam is empowered to advise the government and relevant
authorities of complaints against them and to recommend appropriate
measures, and verify human rights infringements. It is also empowered to
visit places of detention and make necessary recommendations. - FMT, 17/6/2019
Suhakam ‘paralysed’ as new chairman, commissioners still not appointed
PETALING JAYA: The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) has been left
“paralysed” as the government has yet to appoint a new chairman and
commissioners.
Suhakam’s most recent chairman, Razali Ismail, resigned two weeks
before the end of his tenure. This was in the wake of the commission’s
inquiry into missing persons where it accused the police of being
involved in their abductions.
The tenure of the seven Suhakam commissioners, who sit at the very top of the organisation, came to an end on April 25.
“Under the Suhakam Act, it’s the commissioners that decide on matters, not the chair.
“There’s still no announcement yet of the appointment of all the
commissioners, including the chair,” a source with knowledge on the
matter told FMT.
The terms of the seven commissioners – Lok Yim Pheng, Mah Weng Kwai,
Aishah Bidin, Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Saleh, Francis Johen, Godfrey
Gregory Joitol and Jerald Joseph – was for three years from 2016.
“Without commissioners, it can’t really function. Even last term, the
appointment of the commissioners was delayed by two months,” the source
said.
According to the source, the delay in appointing new commissioners is
not justified as the closing date for applications was November 2018
and a selection committee met earlier this year.
“The committee’s vetting and decision must be made public for greater
transparency, as must the selection criteria. The commissioners must
have the competency and experience,” the source said.
Suhakam is empowered by the Suhakam Act to advise the government and
relevant authorities of complaints against them and to recommend
appropriate measures to be taken, verify any infringement of human
rights and issue public statements on human rights as and when
necessary.
It is also empowered to visit places of detention in accordance with
procedures as prescribed by laws relating to the places of detention and
make necessary recommendations.
When contacted, a Suhakam spokesman confirmed that the new commissioners have yet to be appointed.
FMT is attempting to contact Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Liew Vui Keong for comments. - FMT, 16/6/2019
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