If the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) is a toothless tiger as claimed, its commissioners should rightfully resign and the commission should be dissolved said an opposition parliamentarian.

"The citizens of this country is indeed shocked to read the Suhakam chairperson Hasmy Agam's admission yesterday that his commission is only a 'a toothless tiger' since it was set up in 2000.

"Perhaps what is warranted is for the Suhakam commissioners to resign en bloc and send the Agong a letter of protest over their treatment by Putrajaya," said Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng ( left ) in a statement today.

Lim said if what Hasmy said is true, the commission may as well be dissolved altogether.

He was referring to Hasmy's comment that the government did not fear the commission as it is a "watchdog that is tied to the post ".

The Suhakam chief also said the government does not really consult with Suhakam before amending or introducing new laws, they only inform the commission.

'Lodge complaint with rulers'

Lim said the commissioners should lodge an immediate complaint to the Conference of Rulers that Putrajaya has "abused the term  'commission' by claiming the government consults with it from time to time before tabling any bills in Parliament, as has been revealed by Hasmy despite Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's denial today.

"Since it is clear that Suhakam appears to be no longer relevant and is only a waste of public funds, cabinet should discuss immediately to dissolve Suhakam," he said.

Lim said in its place, the government should set up a commission to reform the laws and ensure human rights, and make it a requirement for consultation with this commission before any bill is tabled in Parliament".

Speaking after the launch of Suhakam's 2014 annual report, Hasmy lamented that its reports have never been debated in Parliament since the commission was established in 2008.