The National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) said its new line-up of commissioners should be judged on what they do during their time at the commission instead of their past or present political affiliations.

This comes after civil societies raised concern over the appointment of legal expert Rahmat Mohamad, who co-authored a paper that convinced the Conference of Rulers to reject the Rome Statute, as well as Umno-linked lawyers Hasnal Rezua Merican Habib Merican and Nazira Abdul Rahim as Suhakam chair and commissioners respectively.