It says the current government, as 'self-proclaimed reformists', should know better than to 'perpetuate state intimidation to curtail the right to peaceful assembly'.

Suaram says this is the first time that activists have been called for questioning under the new government.

The opaque and controversial appointments of the commissioners are all the more disappointing given the fact that Malaysia recently secured a seat in the United Nation’s Human Rights Council, pledging to the international body that it would uphold human rights issues.

Suaram says any commercialisation of the vaccines will lead to another form of queue-cutting that will benefit the rich.