The nation has been without any Suhakam commissioner since April 25 when there has been no replacement for 2016 -2019 session after the term of previous Chairman Tan Sri Hasmy Agam and his team expired.
Although Suhakam can still function administratively, the absence of any commissioner means that there will be not any public inquiry as such inquiry can only be done with the approval of the Board of Commissioners.
Such delay should not happen at all if the government is committed to human rights and truly respects the role and responsibilities of Suhakam.
The delay, which is not the first time, makes Malaysians wonder how serious is the government in supporting and appreciating Suhakam as a body that protects and promotes human rights.
In 2010, the delay in appointing new Commissioners took 45 days and in 2013, it took 38 days. So it looks like the government is making the delay in appointment a habit. What could be the excuse this time?
The Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib should take the delays as reflecting badly on the government, both in terms of the government’s administrative efficiency as well as its commitment to provide full support to Suhakam.
Last month, Tan Sri Hasmy Agam who was so disappointed with the government’ s slashing of Suhakam’s allocation from RM 13 million to RM 5 million had even said that Suhakam might have to demonstrate outside Parliament House to ask for more funding.
Why has the government been targeting the wrong areas in its fund slashing exercise?
The government’s cut is most unreasonable as what it should do is to scrap the National Civics Bureau (BTN) which has not been playing the correct and positive role of promoting patriotism in the country.
BTN has been allocated RM 50 million in the 2016 Budget yet it has been playing negative and divisive role.
In early 2015, when the prime minister announced the one-year suspension of National Service Training Programme ( PLKN) in his revised Budget 2015, he said the move would save the government RM400 million a year.
Instead of cutting Suhakam’s budget of RM 13 million, the government should scrap BTN and PLKN.
The Prime Minister should therefore show his support for Suhakam by immediately appointing new Commissioners and cancelling the decision to cut Suhakam’s allocation.