KUALA LUMPUR: An institutional reform coalition has called for two Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) commissioners who are "politically-involved" to resign from their positions once the new Suhakam Act is enforced.
CSO Platform for Reform, a coalition of 60 civil society organisations on institutional reform, said this is as the amendment to Section 5 of the act states that people who are actively involved in politics should not be appointed as members of the commission.
"Therefore, CSO Platform for Reform urges once again for Datuk Hasnal Rezua Merican Habib Merican and Nazira Abdul Rahim to resign from their positions immediately as soon as this act is enforced because it is proven that they are involved in one of the political parties in this country.
"CSO Platform for Reform also asserts that the Suhakam institution, which is an independent body from the government, should not be mixed with people who are actively involved in politics," it said in a statement.
On Wednesday, amendments to the Suhakam Act were passed with a voice vote and are set to have more bite.
CSO Platform for Reform, however, said the amended act which aimed to give the commission independence "looks too good to be true".
"This is because the amendment made under Clause 2 that touches on the authority of Suhakam to carry out its function to visit any institutions and place, other than places of detention, according to the written law of the institution is completely meaningless because in the end the commissioners of Suhakam still need to adhere to the existing bureaucratic practices to conduct any visits.
"CSO Platform for Reform feels that unannounced visits will be impossible since the matter is not included in the amendment of the Suhakam Act.
"Suhakam commissioners should be given full freedom at any time to conduct unannounced visits to obtain clear evidence in the event of human rights violations anywhere," it said.
It also called for Suhakam commissioners to be chosen based on their competence and extensive knowledge in human rights and appointed full-time.
"The number of commissioners can be in the range of seven to nine people to maintain each other's competency," it added.
It added that it welcomed the amendment to the appointment of commissioners where at least 30 per cent must be women and one a person with disability (PWD).
It also welcomed the amendment of Section 13 Subsection 2 where the commission must be informed of any action taken by the authorities or relevant person in relation to the violation of human rights.