From FMT:
Appointment of Suhakam commissioners against spirit of PH manifesto, says Bersih
PETALING JAYA: Electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 today criticised the recent appointment of eight new commissioners to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) which it said had been done without going through the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for Major Public Appointments.
In a statement, it said Promise 26 of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) manifesto clearly states that the appointment of Suhakam commissioners will be done through a parliamentary committee.
“The PSC on Major Public Appointments had been formed since December 2018, and it would have been the right thing to do to allow it to vet potential candidates, even if the process has not been encoded in the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999 (Act 597).
“To allow such a process would have shown the PM’s commitment not only to keep the promises of the manifesto but also his respect for the role of the Parliament as an effective check and balance to the executive, especially to the office of the prime minister,” it said.
As things stood, it added, the prime minister had “followed the letter of the law but ignored the spirit and promises of the PH manifesto”.
Suhakam had been without commissioners since its chairman, Razali Ismail, resigned on April 16, almost two weeks before the end of his term on April 27.
The government yesterday announced former diplomat Othman Hashim as the new chairman. It also announced retired Court of Appeal judge Mohd Hishamudin Yunus and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia economist Madeline Berma as new commissioners, along with former commissioners Mah Weng Kwai, Godfrey Gregory Joitol, Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Salleh, Jerald Joseph and Lok Yim Pheng who were reappointed.
This came two days after Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Liew Vui Keong said a list of the proposed commissioners had been submitted to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad a week ago.
Bersih urged Mahathir and the PH government to expedite the necessary legislative amendments to the appointment process to check any abuse of the power which currently rests with the prime minister.
It proposed a nomination committee comprising individuals who are not involved in partisan politics to call for nominations from the public and conduct the first round of vetting.
“Shortlisted names would then be forwarded to the PSC to interview in public inquiries and further shortlisted for the PM and his Cabinet to select,” it said.
For the appointment of Suhakam commissioners, it said, Section 5 (2) of Act 597 should be amended to compel the selection committee to publish the names of candidates for public scrutiny.
“The process should be more transparent, and shortlisted candidates forwarded to the PSC for further vetting,” it said, adding that the selection committee should not be dominated by civil servants.
“Once again, we reiterate that current law was followed in the appointment of the Suhakam commissioners, but we have to improve the law to put in processes that recognise the important role the Parliament and the public play in establishing a robust parliamentary democracy that is not dependent on the good intention and character of one man.”
When contacted, PSC chairman William Leong said his committee had been briefed on the selection process by Suhakam and the Legal Affairs Division in the Prime Minister’s Office.
What's the fuss about? It's not like Suhakam is a powerful commission like MACC. It's not like the appointment of foxhound Latheefa who is now gone a fishin' catching sharks and whales (soon). Or Art Harun who is now totally revamping the Election Commission.
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother has more teeth than Suhakam, she is 140 years old (if she were still alive).
PSC want to interview grandmothers and grandfathers? Go ahead.
Suhakam has been toothless for years. Razali Ismail resigned 2 weeks before his contract was up. He was symbolically protesting. But did anyone care or take note?
No.
Toonsie straight away appointed more toothless grandmothers and grandfathers as commissioners.
No LGBT, no ICERD, no Rome Statue, no rights for custodian death victims, Indira Gandhi, TBH, pendatangs etc etc.
And a BIG FAT YES TO THE DEATH PENALTY. So there.
No big deal. Malaysia does not respect Human Rights as enshrined in all the UN resolutions which are yet to be ratified. So, let it be so until the tables are turned one day with Malaysians clamoring back for Human Rights to be observed.
ReplyDeleteTo those busybodies talking about other countries Human Rights violations, don't they have any shame at all or dignity?
It like the pot calling the kettle black when they oppose Human Rights in their own backyard but expect other countries to observe Human Rights.
How shameful and hypocritical lecturing other countries about Human Rights on the world stage.
In the meantime, do get Parliament to change the Laws and Acts as pertaining to appointment of Suhakam Commissioners to be nominated and vetted by the PSC instead of the PM before approval by the King.
Talking about Human Rights let’s put these new Suhakam commissioners to the test.
ReplyDeleteNative Sarawakians are being being duped into contributing to the Amanah Saham Sarawak (ASSAR), supposedly as life savings. But unfortunately this is not so.
Guanee is not Sor-Chai after all.
YB Ting’s recent speech at the Sarawak Assembly points to the fact that the ASSAR management has either mismanaged or pilfered EVERY SINGLE RINGGIT ever contributed by native Sarawakians for over 25 years. These same people, including the oh-so-smart Nancy Shukri, manage the state economy. The ASSAR fund now has a grand total of 2.9 SEN, after more than 25 years in operation. Yes, you read that right, according to YB Ting.
No wonder Guanee is worried Sarawak will become bankrupt in 3 years.
Is this Sarawak’s 1MDB?
Come on new Suhakam commissioners, get to work, protect Sarawak Natives’ rights.
But I suspect foxhound Latheefa will beat them to it. The MACC is so much more powerful than the toothless grandfathers and grandmothers in Suhakam.
I also say no to the 20% royalty for O&G as long as the current regime is in place. The thieves that run the place will steal that too, just like the BN thieves in Putrajaya stole all the GST tax collections.
http://www.sarawakreport.org/2019/06/time-for-answers-over-sarawaks-1mdb/