PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad did the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) a favour by not attending its 2018 Human Rights Day Celebration today, Tan Sri Razali Ismail said.
The Suhakam chairman said Dr Mahathir’s decision has apparently triggered more crowd to attend the celebration, held at Padang Timur here.
“The prime minister has helped us by not attending this celebration. When he is not here, many have become interested to attend.
“Many have come to us with many questions and show their interest in various issues pertaining to human rights,” he told a press conference after the event.
Dr Mahathir was initially scheduled to launch the celebration, however he later said he could not attend due to the government’s stand on International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).
The celebration was initially planned for yesterday, the same day as the anti-ICERD rally being held in Dataran Merdeka.
However, it was postponed to today following police’s advise of a possible “serious security risk.”
On Nov 23, the government in a statement announced that it would not be ratifying the ICERD.
In a brief statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said the government would also continue to uphold the Federal Constitution and the agreed upon social contract enshrined within.
Meanwhile, when asked whether the commission had face difficulties with the previous government, Razali admitted that there were various challenges and "red tape" at the time in upholding human rights.
“I have been the commission’s chairman for three year and not even once I get to meet the deputy prime minister.
“There were too many protocols. To see them was just like to see God,” he said. — Additional reporting by Nor Ain Mohamed Radhi, Ahmad Suhael Adnan and Faris Fuad