INVESTIGATION will begin afresh into the disappearance of Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat, but only after the inspector-general of police has been replaced.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the cabinet agreed this morning to start a new probe into the missing pastor and activist as well as to set up a committee to study the findings of the Suhakam inquiry into the cases.

“We will open a new investigation but it will take place after the new IGP is installed. There has been many accusations targeted at the current IGP so we decided it is best to start the probe with a new IGP, he said.

“We will also set up a new group to study on the hearsay evidence submitted by Suhakam,” he said.

Suhakam this week revealed the shocking conclusion of its public inquiry that Koh and Amri were abducted by state agents, namely from the Special Branch.

Following the reports, the families of the missing men have given the authorities six months to act on the findings or they would take the case to the courts.

Amri’s wife, Norhayati Mohd Ariffin, and Koh’s wife, Susanna Liew, said they would file a civil suit if no follow-up action is taken on Suhakam’s findingd..

They do not only demand that the authorities, including the attorney-general, act by the half-year deadline; they also want to meet Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Home Affairs Minister Muhyiddin Yassin over the matter; and the IGP Mohamad Fuzi Harun to update them on the case.

The wives also called for a special task force to be set up to probe into the cases. 

Their husbands vanished more than three years ago in separate abductions. Witnesses said the abductors in Koh’s case appeared to have had police training, being highly efficient and professional at their task.

“Of course we want our husbands back. We would like to see the perpetrators, the ones are responsible for this forced disappearance to be brought to book and we want to see justice and truth revealed,” Liew said. – April 5, 2019.