The recent appointment of new commissioners and the renewal of the terms of others to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) were "arbitrary, non-consultative and non-transparent," said a coalition of human rights groups.

While clearly motivated by political considerations, the other aspects of the appointments remain shrouded in total secrecy without any consultation with civil society groups, said Aliran, the National Human Rights Society and Suaram in a joint statement.

The government announced last week that four commissioners, including the outspoken former head of Suhakam's investigations and complaints committee Prof Mohd Hamdan Adnan, had been dropped.

The four new faces replacing them are Islamic scholar Muhammad 'Uthman El-Muhammady, Dr Denison Jayasooria of the Social Strategic Foundation, lawyer Zaiton Othman, and Dr Michael Yeoh of the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute.

The announcement was made after a nearly two-week delay, which the rights group claimed only served to confirm a growing public perception of Suhakam as only "a window-dressing set up by the government to deceive the public."

They called for the establishment of an independent search committee comprising members of Parliament from the ruling and opposition parties, civil society groups, trade unions, and concerned social and professional organisations.

Performing commissioners

They also requested for a transparent and meaningful selection process that was based on candidates' proven human rights track record, expertise, experience and contributions.

For those whose contracts are expiring, their performance should be reviewed by the Search Committee to ensure that only "performing commissioners" are re-appointed, they said.

Citing the Paris Principles for the establishment of a national human rights institution, the groups said the authorities must ensure "the pluralist representation of the social forces involved in the promotion and protection of human rights."

"This must involve non-governmental organisations, unions, concerned social and professional organisations, universities and Parliament.

"Political considerations ought not to be the criteria for appointments," they added.