KUALA LUMPUR: Lawyer and human rights activist Datuk Ambiga Sreenavasan slammed the postponement of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia's (SUHAKAM) human rights day celebration scheduled for tomorrow.
"Asking SUHAKAM to cancel an event that celebrates International Human Rights Day which many have done for years and years.
"Wow! That’s a first. So now we celebrate by cancelling events rather than having them! Great. And we were on the Human Rights Council!!" Ambiga tweeted.
“Again giving in to bullies," she posted in another tweet, followed by, "So how are you guys celebrating human rights day? Cancelling any events?"
Responding to child activist Dr Hartini Zainuddin who said the postponement was shocking behaviour, Ambiga tweeted, "Because we gave in once and therefore have to keep doing it."
Meanwhile, Klang MP Charles Santiago expressed his disappointment with the event's postponement.
"Pakatan Harapan's (PH) manifesto was based on human rights, rule of law and good governance. What happened? Why prioritize bigotry over human rights. Government and police sending the wrong message," he posted on Twitter.
It was reported earlier that due to safety and security reasons, the celebration will be postponed to a later date.
SUHAKAM chairman Tan Sri Razali Ismail, who made the announcement today via a press statement, said they were informed by the police and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) that there will be serious security risks that may arise out of tomorrow's event that borders on national security.
The event which is to commemorate the International Human Rights Day which falls on Dec 10, was scheduled to take place at Padang Timur, Petaling Jaya.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was to launch the event themed 'Stand Up 4 Human Rights'.
A rally to oppose the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) at Dataran Merdeka, organised by Umno, PAS and Muslim non-governmental organisations (NGO) is slated to take place tomorrow as well.