Pressure is building on the task force set up to investigate the disappearance of activist Amri Che Mat and pastor Raymond Koh with more organisations objecting to its membership.
A group of 10 human rights organisations has called on the Home Ministry to revise the membership of the task force probing the disappearance of missing pastor Raymond Koh and Perlis activist Amri Che Mat.
Calling the task force “seriously flawed”, the NGOs released a statement in support of the families of the two men who had expressed concerns over the appointments to the task force.
The civil society organisations stressed that the task force must be independent and not mired in conflict of interest or biasness.
Otherwise, it would be seen as a “whitewashing force”, set up to hide rather than uncover the truth behind the disappearance of the duo, they said.
“The composition of the task force only seems to please the perpetrators and this is unacceptable,” the NGOs said, adding that this will increase suspicion about the government.
They added that it is “absurd” that the task force will only begin investigating Koh’s case, after the conclusion of the pending criminal prosecution.
“As it stands, we are deeply disappointed with the Prime Minister saying he cannot please everyone with the composition of the task force,” they said.
“It is not a case of pleasing everyone, but of prioritising justice for the family of the victims and for those seeking the truth and genuine closure in this case,” they added.
The NGOs also said the revised task force membership should take into account the views of the affected families and various civil society organisations that have been following the case closely.
The families of the two men had earlier questioned the appointments to the task force.
They said the inclusion of former Royal Malaysia Police Legal Unit chief Datuk Mokhtar Mohd Noor, a police officer who participated in the Suhakam hearing, affects the impartiality and independence of the task force.
It had been suggested earlier that a member from the Bar Council, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and a representative from a non-governmental organisation be included in the task force.
The 10 NGOs named in the statement are Engage, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH), LLG Cultural Development Centre (LLG), Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara, Pusat Komas, Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM), Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), Tamil Foundation Malaysia, United Chinese School Alumni Associations of Malaysia (UCSAAM) and University of Malaya Association of New Youth (UMANY).
In a separate statement, the Society for the Promotion of Human Rights (Proham) said it was astonished that Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had disregarded the basic principle of avoiding conflict of interest when he approved the list of task force members.
“We echo the sentiments expressed by Citizens Against Enforced Disappearances (CAGED) and the family members in respect of the indisputable conflict of interest faced by three out of six of the members of the task force,” Proham chairman Kuthubul Zaman Bukhari and secretary-general Ivy Josiah said in the statement.
They said Abd Rahim Uda, Mokhtar Mohd Noor and Zamri Yahya should not have been appointed.
“Another gross failing in the choice of members is the absence of any unbiased, professional and reputable investigator with first-hand practical knowledge of the workings of PDRM.
“The home minister appears to have completely missed the terms of reference of the task force.
“The task force must review police records and testimony which were not made available to the Suhakam inquiry purportedly due to the Official Secrets Act and established practices in relation to ongoing cases.
“The task force must also do the basic investigative work which police officers, in their testimony before Suhakam, admitted had not been done. Such work can only be done by exercising police powers such as obtaining relevant evidence and tracing and recording statements from witnesses.”
They said the task force must include one or more members of civil society to ensure transparency, adding that failure to revamp its composition would result in the loss of public trust.
Meanwhile, the National Patriots Association (Patriot) criticised the apparent lack of will on the part of the authorities to bring the matter to a close.
“The composition of the task force members does not inspire the confidence of the people. There were no terms of reference mentioned. Is the role of the task force to start an inquiry all over again?” its president Mohamed Arshad Raji asked in a statement.
“Patriot expects the home affairs minister to act decisively and bring to book the culprits responsible for the forced disappearance of persons, irrespective of their position and rank.
“If the minister fails to do so, then it is incumbent upon the Cabinet to act accordingly. No more procrastination.”
Earlier reports:
Jun 28, Raymond Koh’s Family Takes PM to Task over “Can’t Please Everybody” Remark
Jun 27, PM to Look into Amri, Koh Task Force Complaints
Jun 27, Criticism Against Composition of Task Force
Jun 26, Ex-High Court Judge Heads Six-Man Task Force in Amri, Koh Probe