Ridiculous to appoint police to investigate missing activists, says DAP lawmaker

Alfian Z.M. Tahir Alfian Z.M. Tahir Updated 6 years ago · Published on 30 Jun 2019 12:31PM · 6 Comments

Klang MP Charles Santiago has slammed the special task force announced by Putrajaya to look into enforced disappearances of two activists, calling it a conflict of interest to have some members of the police onboard. – The Malaysian Insight pic, June 30, 2019.

IT is ridiculous for Putrajaya to set up a special task force on enforced disappearances when it is made up of serving police officers or those linked to it, said Klang MP and DAP’s Charles Santiago.

In a statement today, he said the decision to include police officers is an insult to the family who have suffered for years.

“In April this year, Malaysia’s national human rights commission or Suhakam said the police played a role in the enforced disappearances of Pastor Raymond Koh and activist Amri Che Mat.

“Therefore, it’s ridiculous that the government task force to investigate these enforced disappearances is made up of police officers or those who have worked with the police.

“It’s a conflict of interest and insults the family members who have suffered for years.”

Santiago then panned Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s remarks that there was no conflict of interest in the appointments of police in the task force as disturbing.

“Didn’t we, the lawmakers and cabinet members who were once the opposition, vehemently condemn such atrocities under the former Umno-led government? Has the cat gotten our tongue now?

“For instance: Mokhtar Mohd Noor, the former police legal division head, had a direct interest in the Suhakam probe and even made submissions on behalf of the police during the public inquiry held by commission.

“Zamri Yahya is Bukit Aman’s Integrity and Standard Compliance department director. Both men sit on the task force.”

Yesterday, Muhyiddin said there is nothing wrong with the inclusion of Mokhtar in the task force, investigating the disappearances of Koh and Amri.

He said the former police legal unit chief’s neutrality is not compromised, as claimed by Koh’s family.

Santiago said the task force should have representative from the Malaysian Bar, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and from a non-governmental organisation.

“Anything else will only raise questions if the government is really interested in getting to the truth.”

Members of the special task force were announced by Muhyiddin last week.

Led by former high court judge Abdul Rahim Uda, they are Mokhtar, Zamri, 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.

However, the wives of Koh and Amri had questioned the absence of women and non-Malays in the task force.

The Suhakam inquiry had concluded that Koh and Amri were victims of enforced disappearance abducted by, on balance of probability, state agents, namely the police’s Special Branch.

Koh and Amri’s families also questioned Putrajaya’s failure to heed their suggestions to include in the task force representatives of the Malaysian Bar, MACC and a civil society group.

Amri, who was the founder of the welfare group Perlis Hope, left his home in Kangar at 11.30pm on November 25, 2016, in his SUV.

Koh, who founded Harapan Komuniti, was abducted by a group of men on Jalan SS4B/10 in Petaling Jaya on February 13, 2017, while on his way to a friend’s house. – June 30, 2019.

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Comments

  • PH must do the right thing, please.do not behave like rhe past BN, the one in power covering the asshole of another.

    Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • That polis never enforced any disappearance as a conclusion coming out from this panel is a foregone conclusion.

    Posted 6 years ago by Roger 5201 · Reply

  • Why does our MPs in the country always good at after effect reactions. Why can't they have a concerted consultative decisions. Who the heck cares anymore !!! Going to media to talk about it is deemed as publicity , incompetent and no unity as team work. In Malayisia once it is announced it is extremely difficult for the MPs to revoke his/her annoucement as they are adamant as their PM leader who has shown example by being authoratative and no two ways about it. The old leaders from Umno ,PAS , PKR , PPBM and even DAPhas never learn to be humble in approach and very vain and conceited in their tightly held beliefs of being right in their decision. They detested to be told of another choice. "My Way" is all they learned from the 61 yeras of malady in UMNOBN rule. High time we have youthfull views and something new for a change in the country political landscape. This means that we have to get rid off the old leaders with their skewed mentality and inability to embrace reform for changes. The old leaders are still in their old shell thinking that their years of experiences have what it takes for them best on how to run the country. Old may be gold but if it is rotten old, it needs to be treated , shelved and replaced. Like old furniture if is infested with woodw worms it has to be treated and place in a corner for lesser usage incase it breaks. Muhyiddin has been very inconsistent in his political astuteness. I think it is time he is placed in a well deserve rest. Same goes to the PM who still thinks he is only like the youth he was in 1981 helming the Premiership. It is blatant now we can see from the last one year the rationale and resilency in both the physical and thought process which are always in confrontation to the actual real world of administration and contrary to their own upheld beliefs. This has clearly shown that our MPs are aging in both political divide and becoming very wilful in manners with the same old same old sentiments in engaging. It is peremptorily that the country adjust itself for new injection of youth particiaption in the Parliament.

    Posted 6 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Cant agree more with Charles Santiago. The composition of the Task Force means it is just a sandiwara to please the public and with no intention to seek the truth.

    Posted 6 years ago by Rupert Lum · Reply

  • The government does not want any finding that certain persons professing the religion of Islam were responsible for the abductions. It's been turned into a political matter, not an effort to find the truth and justice.

    Posted 6 years ago by Ravinder Singh · Reply

  • Malays with the govt of malaysia todate n previous are simply REFUSING TO REVEAL THE TRUTH. They are playing tricks with the Non Malay. Non Malay need to think what will their FUTURE Be Like In mala sial.

    Posted 6 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply