KUALA LUMPUR: Citing security reasons, the human rights day celebration organised by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), scheduled for tomorrow is now postponed to a later date.
The commission's chairman Tan Sri Razali Ismail made the announcement today via a press statement, informing that a press conference on the postponement will take place at 4pm.
Razali said they were informed by the police and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) that there will be serious security risks that may arise out of tomorrow's event that borders on national security.
He however said details on the risks were not divulged.
"SUHAKAM is disappointed that a government that is committed to human rights would seem to be influenced by tactics of pressure and extremism that has resulted in the need to postpone the celebration that was planned a few months ago.
"We apologise profusely to the public, our guests, the participants and volunteers to our celebration," Razali said.
The event which is to commemorate the 2018 International Human Rights Day which falls on Dec 10, was scheduled to take place at Padang Timur, Petaling Jaya tomorrow morning.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was to launch the event themed 'Stand Up 4 Human Rights'.
Also taking place tomorrow is a rally to oppose the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) at Dataran Merdeka, organised by Umno, PAS and Muslim non-governmental organisations (NGO).