THE task force to investigate the cases of missing activists should not be set up to please anybody but because it is the right thing do, said the family of Pastor Raymond Koh.

The Koh family and civil society groups took offence at Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s statement when defending the composition of the task force that the government cannot please everyone.

The families of the missing men and civil society groups had objected to the selection of the task force members, half of whom are from the police force, including one officer who represented the police at the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia’s (Suhakam) public inquiry.

In responding to their criticism, Dr Mahathir had also said the government would look into any complaints once the task force has started work.

The task force members were announced on Thursday by Home Minster Muhyiddin Yassin, who said they had six months to come up with answers to the abductions of Koh and Perlis Hope founder Amri Che Mat.

The families of Koh and Amri, as well as several civil society groups had immediately questioned the selection, pointing out that several police officers had been on the defence during Suhakam’s public inquiry into the missing pastor and activist.

The inquiry had concluded that Koh and Amri were victims of enforced disappearance and that the police Special Branch in Bukit Aman were responsible for their vanishing.

Jerald Gomez, the Koh family’s lawyer, told The Malaysian Insight the prime minister should heed the calls for a more credible task force.

“The PM should appreciate that we are talking about basic principles of fairness and equality. (It is) not about pleasing anyone. It was the PM who said his government would uphold and follow the rule of law, and that includes natural justice and the rule against bias,” he said.

If the government does not care to consider the wishes of the family, it should at least be concerned about the opinion of the public, who want an independent, fair and credible task force, he said.

“It is our hope that the government will disband this task force and form a new one.”

Koh’s wife Susanna Liew said the victims and their families have been deprived of justice.

“It’s not about pleasing people. It’s about doing what is right, (obeying the) basic principles of fairness and equality,” Liew said.

“The PM talks about upholding the rule of law and justice. The victims of enforced disappearances and their families have not received the justice they deserve for almost three years.

“The government owes it to them and the whole country – the truth and nothing but the truth. We can only know the truth of what happened to Koh, Amri, Joshua Hilmy and Ruth, if credible people are put on the task force.”

While she is grateful that the government has made an effort to look into Suhakam’s findings, she also hopes for a task force that is independent, impartial and credible.

Civil society group, Citizens Against Enforced Disappearances (CAGED), in welcoming the prime minister’s willingness to look into the complaints, said the members of the task force must be capable of ensuring stern action is taken against the perpetrators to send a message that there is no room for police impunity in the new Malaysia heralded by the change of government.

It added that they should also be able to address institutional failures which resulted in the failures documented by the Suhakam panel.

CAGED maintained that three people should not be on the task force.

CAGED and Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) were instrumental in the inception of Suhakam’s public inquiry.

Suaram’s executive director Sevan Doraisamy said Dr Mahathir’s reaction to criticism of the task force was baffling.

“The prime minister is correct. The government cannot please everyone.

“The question is, why did the government choose to please the alleged perpetrators by forming a compromised task force and not please Malaysians who are seeking justice for the missing activists?”

Sevan said the inclusion of police officers in the task force is absurd as their neutrality was doubtful.

The special task force comprises former High Court judge Abdul Rahim Uda, former police legal affairs chief Mokhtar Mohd Noor, police integrity unit director Zamri Yahya, Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission operations director Muhammad Bukhari Ab Hamid, Attorney-General’s Chambers officer Mohd Sophia Zakaria and Police Commission secretary Mohd Russaini Idrus.

The families had earlier expressed shock that Mokhtar was on the panel as he had openly defended the force at the Suhakam public inquiry.

The families had also questioned why there were no non-Malays or women on the task force, adding the lack of diverse representation in the panel runs counter to the spirit of muhibbah and does not reflect the multi-racial, multi-faith character of the country. – June 28, 2019.