Joseph was first appointed a Suhakam commissioner for the 2016-2019 term before it was extended for another term from 2019 to 2022.

In a statement late last night, he said the past six years had led to various landscapes for him in Malaysia, “from prisons and immigration detention centres to stateless villages, indigenous villages and urban poor housing, among others”.

“It has been an amazing experience of defending Malaysia’s good practices and pushing for change where we have failed.

“I have learnt so much. And there’s so much for us to do to ensure human rights belong to all, not just to some. It’s only possible if we continue working together for a better Malaysia.

“It was my absolute privilege to give to our beautiful Malaysia. I look forward to continue serving Malaysia and our world for human rights whenever needed,” he said.

Joseph, whose last day as a Suhakam commissioner was yesterday, remains a board member of rights NGO Pusat Komas.

He had also served in civil societies like the Commonwealth Foundation Advisory Body and Asian South Pacific Bureau for Adult Education, among others.