KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has announced the appointment of new members for Suhakam with Tan Sri Hasmy Agam becoming the new chairman.

Hasmy is the Institute of Diplo-macy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) executive chairman, which is under the Foreign Ministry.

The former chairman of Suhakam was Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman.

The members of the commission are Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah, Prof Datuk Dr Khaw Lake Tee, James Deva Nayagam, Prof Datuk Dr Mahmood Zuhdi A.Majid, Jannie Lasimbang and Detta Samen.

In a press statement to Bernama here last night, Najib said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had consented to the appointment of the new Suhakam members for a three-year period under the Suhakam Act 1999.

The Prime Minister said the appointment took effect from April 26, 2010.

The Suhakam team led by Abu Talib ended its term on April 23 and it had been without commissioners for 45 days.

Earlier yesterday, Suhakam secretary Hashimah Nik Jaafar said further action on a memorandum submitted to the commission on May 24 over the arrest of four Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia students during the Hulu Selangor by-election could not proceed because it had no commissioners, reports Shaila Koshy.

“Our investigation unit has looked into the matter and we have also spoken to the university authorities.

“We are now waiting for the new commissioners to take office so we can table the matter and they can decide on the next course of action,” she said.

The memorandum submitted by student movement Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia and the four students centred on the arrests of political science students Hilman Idham, Ismail Aminuddin, Azlin Shafina Adzha and Woon King Chai for allegedly contravening Section 15(5) of the University and University Colleges Act.

The Star yesterday reported Barisan Nasional MP for Rembau Khairy Jamaluddin and Pakatan Rakyat MP for Puchong Gobind Singh Deo calling the delay inexcusable and said they would be seeking answers from the Government.