KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 — Tan Sri Hasmy Agam said that hurtful attacks that labelled him as an “ignorant” Muslim almost prompted him to quit his post as the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) chairman.

In an interview with local daily Berita Harian, Hasmy said that the accusation was hurled at him in 2013 after he urged the government to sign off the six remaining international conventions on human rights by 2020.

“Unfortunately, I was labelled as a Malay Muslim that does not care about issues that arise after that if the convention was signed such as the appearance of apostasy and free sex relations,” the second-term Suhakam chief was quoted saying

The name of the non-government organisation that attacked him was not stated in the daily’s report, however.

Hasmy said he found the accusation saddening and hard to accept, adding: “It accused me of being jahil (ignorant) about Islam and not caring about religious laws. It gave a very deep impact on me.”

He said he tried to shrug off the accusation, but felt that the attack had affected his reputation as a Malay-Muslim when even his brother approached him to verify the accusation.

“When I was a diplomat and ambassador, I had never faced an accusation like that. I feel that it is something that is very hurtful.

“I also felt that I am old and need to rest. So I think it’s better that I step down, but I was advised to continue my duty as Suhakam chairman until today,” he said in the interview.

Having served as a Malaysian diplomat for over 30 years, Hasmy was appointed to head Suhakam in 2010, and was reappointed to yet another three-year term that runs from 2013 to 2016.

In the same interview with the Malay-language paper, Hasmy said Malaysia should ratify the remaining international treaties on human rights, cautioning that the country may risk its image dipping while leaders and diplomats may lose face in international meetings.

“Suhakam worries if Malaysia doesn’t speed up efforts to sign the conventions, it will affect Malaysia’s image in the eyes of the world.

“We worry that this lateness will give opportunities for other countries including poor or developing countries to belittle Malaysia. Malaysia’s role, views and position especially in fundamental rights issues may also be mocked at by other countries,” he said.

He pointed out that Malaysia is an active member of the United Nations and was voted in as a non-permanent member of its security council, and is also currently chairing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Hasmy said that Malaysia should start with signing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

In December 2013, non-profit groups told the Najib administration to ratify six international human rights treaties, including on racial discrimination, as Malaysia remains in the bottom 10 countries in the United Nations (UN) on upholding such agreements. Malaysia was ranked 187 out of 195 nations.

The two other conventions that Malaysia has yet to ratify are the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families; and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

Malaysia has only ratified three UN treaties so far: the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.