Last Friday, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced the appointment of eight commissioners who will serve for the next three years. Among them are Selayang Umno deputy chief Hasnal Rezua Merican Habib Merican and Nazira Abdul Rahim, the head of the women’s wing of Kulim Umno.

Salahuddin said since its inception, Suhakam had been tasked with advising and holding the government of the day accountable for upholding human rights values and laws. He questioned if the appointments of Hasnal and Nazira were done without merit.

“Both of them have never been known to have any practical experience in human rights, which will impact Suhakam’s integrity and ability to advise the government in formulating legislation in line with human rights principles,” he said in a statement.

“Can Umno leaders appointed to the commission be entrusted with reprimanding the prime minister if there are any human rights violations committed by the government?”

Salahuddin also expressed concern over the appointment of Rahmat Mohamad, a law professor at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), as the new chairman of the commission.

He labelled the appointment as “controversial” as Rahmat 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.

Salahuddin’s comments follow similar concerns raised by rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia, Klang MP Charles Santiago and former diplomat Noor Farida Ariffin.

The appointment of the eight commissioners, effective June 22, came more than two months after the term of the previous nine expired on April 27.