New Suhakam chairman to be appointed ‘soon’

Deputy law and institutional reform minister M Kula Segaran said the process of appointing a new Suhakam chairman is in its final stage. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR The process of selecting and appointing a new Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) chairman is nearly complete, says deputy law and institutional reform minister M Kula Segaran.

The position has been vacant since Rahmat Mohamad resigned on Aug 31 last year, a little more than two months after the commission sanctioned an independent investigation into allegations of abuse of power against him.

At the Dewan Rakyat today, Kula Segaran said a committee formed to select the new chairman met on June 7, during which they also took note of amendments to the Suhakam Act which stated that commissioners must not be members of any political parties and must not be actively involved in politics.

“The process of appointing a new chairman is now in its final stage, and the name will be announced soon,” he said.

The Dewan Rakyat has been debating Suhakam’s annual reports and financial statements for 2021 and 2022, during which MPs have questioned the delay in appointing a new chairman.

Former chairman Rahmat faced scrutiny when he sued a member of the staff for defamation following allegations that he had abused his power to influence the hiring of a specific candidate for the position of chief assistant secretary.

He denied the allegations in a media interview, saying all decisions were made with the agreement of Suhakam commissioners.

However, Suhakam later announced the suit had been dropped to allow for an independent internal investigation that did not involve commission members.