Taskforce to look into Suhakam findings on disappearance of Pastor Koh, Amri

PUTRAJAYA: The government will set up a special taskforce to investigate Human Rights Commission's (Suhakam) claim of police involvement in the disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh and activist Amri Che Mat.

Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the cabinet has agreed to the setting up of the taskforce which will comprised of six or seven members to study the report.

After looking into the report, he said the taskforce would then recommend appropriate action to be taken by the ministry or relevant authorities.

"There are several issues which the ministry is taking a serious note on including claim of police involvement.

"Therefore, we (the government) have decided that a taskforce will be established to investigate this matter and this has already been agreed by the cabinet," he told reporters after attending the ministry's Iftar programme today.

Last month, Suhakam presented its reports after an 18-month inquiry into a series of missing person cases.

The report concluded that the police's Special Branch was involved in the "enforced disappearances" of social activist Amri, who disappeared in 2016, and Pastor Koh, who was abducted in 2017.

The ministry, Muhyiddin said, was currently finalising suitable members to join the taskforce.

"We have identified about six to seven people we believe are suitable. We are currently seeking their approval to become part of the taskforce.

"Because the report said there was police involvement and the authority to investigate this matter is the police... Therefore we want to make sure that there are other authorities to investigate the matter." he added

This taskforce once has been set up, will be given a duration to present the findings of their investigation on the Suhakam report.

"I believe this is line with the demands of Suhakam. We are not taking this matter lightly as Suhakam has made some serious allegations in the report.

"As soon as the taskforce present their findings, we will be able to decide on the next course of action." he added.