PETALING JAYA: The previous Barisan Nasional (BN) government had only used the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) as an “ornament”, its chairman Tan Sri Razali Ismail said today.

It hardly engaged Suhakam, making the commission’s work difficult, he said at a press conference after the Human Rights Day celebration here.

“They used us only as an ornament to tell the world that yes, we have a human rights commission ... only when it was necessary for them to do so. Genuinely, they were not committed,“ Razali said.

“Hardly any minister was willing to talk (to us) and in Malaysia, everything comes from the top.

“It was so difficult. How can you represent the (people’s) aspirations and the need to improve when you can’t even see us?”

Earlier in addressing the celebration, Razali said Malaysia was at a defining moment, which can make it a shining example of a government and people who were committed to human rights.

Razali said Malaysians can be thankful that Human Rights Day can be celebrated with excitement and pride.

There are still many human rights aspects that must be given attention by the people and the government, he added.

“I believe despite the challenges which cannot be underestimated, this government is holding course to manifest commitments to human rights in implementing manifold policies,“ Razali said.

“Nothing would make me feel better than to see our embrace of human rights having an impact in the region and in the world.”

Held in Padang Timur, Petaling Jaya, and themed # StandUp4HumanRights, the event kicked off at about 10am and finished at 3pm.

Also present were Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof, Selayang MP William Leong and Batu Kawan MP P. Kasthuriraani.

Meanwhile, Selangor police chief Datuk Mazlan Mansor said the police were monitoring the area to ensure smooth traffic flow as well as the safety of the public.

The celebration, initially planned to be held yesterday, was postponed to today for security reasons to avoid clashes with the rally pertaining to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).