Mon, November 16, 2009 - KUCHING: The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has dismissed the allegation that it is masquerading as a non-governmental organisation (NGO), as alleged by Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Suhakam Sarawak commissioner Dr Mohd Hirman Ritom Abdullah said Suhakam had been given a mandate by Parliament and the government to promote as well as protect human rights or related issues.

He added that it was within its right to act or speak on behalf of people or communities who felt that their right had been violated by others.

"It is not fair to make that suggestion because what we are doing has nothing to do with politics. We voice the concern of those who come to us and want their needs or demand to be addressed by the authorities," he said yesterday.

For example, Hirman said, the Penan issue should be handled properly so that action could be taken. The issue involved accessibility to infrastructure, land and education, he added.

He denied that Suhakam had made any statement referring to the extinction of the orang utan in Sarawak.

Taib was quoted by an English daily as saying that he was unhappy with Suhakam as well as local NGOs about the Penan community and environmental issues.

Making his remark at the sixth anniversary of the Sarawak Forestry Corporation, Taib even suggested that Suhakam register itself as a political party since Suhakam, "which is supposed to fight for human rights, has talked much about the Penan and environmental issues, and even on the orang utan"