THE government is ready to form a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to look into the police’s role in the disappearance of two activists more than three years ago, said Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said his ministry will need to study the Malaysian Human Rights Commission’s (Suhakam) report that pointed to the Special Branch teams from federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman for snatching the two activists.

“We will study the Suhakam report to see if we need to establish an RCI.

“We can also reopen the cases if allowed by the prosecutor…we will see,” he told reporters in Parliament today.

Yesterday, Suhakam released its report on Pastor Raymond Koh and Perlis Hope Founder Amri Che Mat, who are missing since 2017, blaming the Special Branch for the act.

The report was based on Suhakam’s inquiry that was established last year to ascertain if Koh, Amri and two others – Pastor Joshua Hilmy and his wife, Ruth – were victims of enforced disappearance.

Suhakam had also recommended that, among others, an independent task force to re-investigate the disappearances. 

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday said the government would take up the matter if there was evidence, and urged Suhakam to produce evidence that the police were involved in the disappearance of the duo.

“But please remember that this did not happen during our (Pakatan Harapan) government, but during the previous government (administration).

“A lot of things that happened then were hidden from us and the public.” 

Suhakam’s inquiry had heard that a police report was lodged against Koh, months after his abduction, for allegedly proselytising to young people in the northern part of the peninsula. 

The report was lodged by a businessman sometime in April 2017 after Koh’s abduction on February 13.

At the time, it was reported that police recorded a statement from two youngsters who claimed they were approached by three men, one of whom was believed to be Koh.

In Malaysia, proselytisation of other religions can only be done to non-Muslims.

Activist Amri, meanwhile, was under police surveillance over alleged Shia links. Shia Islam is illegal in Malaysia. – April 4, 2019