Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) may have to follow rules and guidelines set by the government to streamline its investigation procedures and reports, Foreign Affairs Minister Syed Hamid Albar said today.

This was being done to avoid any confusion that could arise, he said, citing an earlier incident in which Suhakam had tabled a report in Parliament without the ministry's knowledge. Suhakam falls under the ministry's purview.

"We don't even know when they table [their reports] to Parliament. They go straight to Parliament," he told reporters after the launch of the forum on human rights at Pusat Islam in Kuala Lumpur today.

Citing the incident, he said that the ministry was given a copy of the report earlier but was not informed of the date it would be tabled. Since the ministry was responsible for answering the questions on Suhakam's reports in Parliament, it was caught off-guard then.

Nonetheless, he said feedback from Suhakam was necessary as the foreign affairs minister was responsible for the questions raised in Parliament pertaining to the commission.

"Suhakam does not have a member that sits in Parliament [which gives them the right to] answer questions," he said, adding that problems could arise if rules and procedures were not followed.

"At present, we have not made the rules but we're looking into making the rules, pursuant to the [1999 Suhakam] Act. Our legal side is working on it. Once we've got the rules, it will be easier."

Yesterday, Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Dr Leo Michael Toyad had said in Parliament that the government was considering setting up guidelines for Suhakam in response to a question raised by MP Jamaluddin Jarjis

'Musa entitled to his views'

On Musa Hitam's controversial remarks that human rights must take a "back seat" to national security concerns in the wake of the Sept 11 terrorist attacks, Syed Hamid said that Musa was entitled to his opinions.

"Musa has not been asked to say anything. He has his own mind and he is entitled to give his views," he said, adding that the government has always viewed that human rights must be exercised with responsibility.

"You cannot exercise your rights without thinking of the rights of others," he stressed.

Musa made the controversial remarks during a TV3 employees' union meeting last month. His words drew many criticisms, among them from fellow human rights commissioner Mehrun Siraj.

Musa, however, clarified in an interview with malaysiakini on Wednesday that he had made the statement as former deputy prime minister and not as Suhakam chief.