Tuesday, June 18, 2019

52 Days - Still NO Human Rights Commissioners in Malaysia? We miss the voice of SUHAKAM..

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


The three-year tenure of the seven Suhakam commissioners ended on April 25.
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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