Suhakam was again the whipping boy of the government when a minister today accused the human rights body of now whimpering on its stand.

"Those whose occupation has been to make critical observation on human rights issues in this country have somehow simply whimpered and reportedly been satisfied to allow human rights to [take a] back seat for now," said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Dr Rais Yatim.

He said this while presenting the keynote address at the 11th Malaysian Law Conference in Kuala Lumpur.

"Whatever happened to those who lambasted the government for alleged abuses by the police, for alleged abuse of power, for flouting the rule of law? I am afraid that even Suhakam has lost its shrill voice on the violation of human rights," Rais added.

The 12-member body has been taken to task by opposition parties and human rights groups when its chairperson Musa Hitam said in a speech last week that human rights and democracy should take a back seat in light of national security concerns following the Sept 11 terrorist attacks.

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.

In his defence, Musa said he had made the statement as a former deputy prime minister and not as the head of Suhakam.

Later Rais told reporters that his statement was not to paint the commission in a bad light.

"Perhaps after the Sept 11 incident many institutions were stunned and taken aback. Maybe they are trying to recall and adjust their stand.

"I think as a matter of priority we should be quick in addressing international violations and not focus on local matters to the effect we forget the international view," Rais said, referring to the US-led bombings in Afghanistan which had been criticised by many nations.

However, Suhakam commissioner Mahadev Shankar who was invited as a panellist at the conference told the 400-odd participants that Rais had erred.

"It is a shout and not a whimper. Human rights should be the duty of all and not just Suhakam," Mahadev said.

He also said during his speech that people around the world were becoming more aware of the importance of human rights.

"Locally and globally if a poll is taken as to what legal subject is considered to be of the greatest importance people would opt for human rights.

"This subject exerts an appeal over the human mind like no other because it covers the gamut of a human being's needs to achieve his full potential," said Mahadev who presented a paper entitled 'The role of judges and lawyers in evolving human rights jurisprudence'.

Other luminaries who are attending the three-day conference include Chief Justice Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah, Attorney-General Ainum Mohd Saaid, Court of Appeal president Wan Adnan Ismail, Chief Judge of Malaya Ahmad Fairuz Dato Sheikh Abdul Halim, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Steve Shim Lip Kiong and Malaysian Bar president Mah Weng Kwai.