THE Home Ministry has gotten the cabinet’s approval to form a special task force to look into the disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh and Perlis Hope founder Amri Che Mat.

Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the decision was made after reviewing a report by the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), which blamed police’s Special Branch for the duo’s disappearance.

“We made a decision to form the task force, and the cabinet has given its approval,” he said after the ministry’s breaking-of-fast event today.

Candidates are being shortlisted to be part of the task force, which will include police, he said.

Muhyiddin said the ministry will ensure those picked as members have no direct connection to the cases.

“The Suhakam report implicates police, and the agency that will have to conduct the investigations is also police.

“Hence we want to ensure that the chosen officials are the right ones.”

In its report issued last month, following the end of an inquiry that lasted more than a year, Suhakam concluded that police were responsible for Koh and Amri’s disappearance.

The special task force will be given about three months to vet the Suhakam report, said Muhyiddin.

“We do not take the report lightly. The allegations in the report, especially those against police, are serious.”

He said the ministry will decide on the next course of action after the task force completes its probe and presents its findings.

The task force will comprise “six to seven” members, he added. – May 23, 2019.