Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy said the appointment of Selayang Umno chief Hasnal Rezua Merican Habib Merican and Kulim Umno women’s division chief Nazira Abdul Rahim to the human rights commission has severely compromised its neutrality.
“By appointing these two persons, we are worried that the power given to Suhakam to inquire into human rights complaints and assisting the government in related legislations would be severely compromised,” he said in a statement.
He added that the appointment of the two may also affect the credibility of the commission’s findings in the eyes of the public and civil society.
The rights group was also concerned over the appointment of former Jakim director-general Nordin Ibrahim, as he had previously questioned Suhakam’s third gender recognition research project.
“We are concerned that his appointment would hamper the commission’s ability in conducting research that may prove to be sensitive and controversial to the executive, but aligns with Suhakam’s core objectives,” he said.
The appointment of chairman Rahmat Mohamad had also drawn flak, as he was reported to have co-authored a paper in 2019 which convinced the Conference of Rulers to reject ratification of the Rome Statute, by which Malaysia would accede to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The other commissioners appointed are Noor Aziah Mohd Awal, former Malaysian Bar president Ragunath Kesavan, Dr Chew Chee Ming and Mary @ Mariati Robert.
Sevan said the root of the controversial appointments stem from the lack of transparency and parliamentary oversight on the entire selection process of the commissioners, adding that the public and civil society were “left in the dark”.
He added that the appointments had also not followed the Suhakam Act, which states that a committee must first be formed to be consulted on the matter, with three members to be from civil society.
“Civil society is mostly unaware of the formation, the composition of the committee, and the selection criteria for the appointment of these new commissioners,” he said.
On Friday, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced the appointment of eight new commissioners, more than two months after the term of the previous nine expired on April 27.