WITH the Special Branch named the party responsible in the disappearances of Pastor Raymond Koh and Perlis Hope founder Amri Che Mat, the top cop should resign or be suspended and face investigation, said DAP lawmakers. 

The Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), which conducted a public inquiry into the disappearances that happened more than two years ago, revealed today it was the Special Branch that had abducted the two activists.

Suhakam commissioner Mah Weng Kwai said the two men were snatched by Bukit Aman’s Special Branch and were never seen again.

Ramkarpal Singh, who is DAP’s national legal bureau chairman, said the commission’s findings are “most serious and must be addressed immediately”.

To prevent suspicion of bias, he said Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun should resign honourably or alternatively be suspended pending investigations into the findings

“Although (Fuzi) might not be personally responsible, he was head of the Special Branch at the time. He should be magnanimous enough to step aside and allow investigations to commence independently.

“There can be no doubt that such investigations must commence as the credibility of the entire police force has seriously been compromised as a result of the matter, particularly having all this while denied any knowledge of the disappearance of the duo.

“Such investigations cannot possibly be free from suspicion of bias if Fuzi continues helming the force and any perception of a cover-up must be avoided at all costs,” he said in a statement.

Ramkarpal, who is also Bukit Gelugor MP, said the Pakatan Harapan government must also show strong political will in handling the matter by suspending Fuzi if he did not resign.

He said the administration must prioritise efforts to secure the release of Koh and Amri.

“Those responsible must be held accountable and no stone left unturned in the investigations.”

Klang MP Charles Santiago claimed Fuzi is hiding information about Koh and Amri despite their families going through hope and despair. 

“This is heinous and Fuzi must be investigated for covering up this violation of human rights and crime under international human rights law.

“The government must also investigate other police officers complicit in this crime and start declaring these cases as enforced disappearances,” he said in a statement. 

Santiago said abducting these people is a grave violation of police powers and the police have no right to place them outside the protection of the law, if needed should charge the perpetrators in an open court. 

“It’s time to set-up an independent police complaints and misconduct commission, without any delay. 

“The idea was mooted 14 years ago and does not need further deliberation or feedback as proposed by Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.”

He said Malaysians need to feel safe in their country. 

“We need to believe that the police have our backs; that they will protect us. But we don’t.”

Earlier today, Koh and Amri’s families said they will file a civil suit if the authorities fail to act on the inquiry’s findings in six months. – April 3, 2019