PUTRAJAYA needs to expedite the “proper constitution” of a special task force to look into two missing activists, said a civil society group, demanding that the government not drag its feet on the matter.

Citizens Against Enforced Disappearances (Caged) today said it has been more than 16 weeks since the release of a Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) report that pointed to Special Branch’s involvement in the abduction of Pastor Raymond Koh and Perlis Hope found Amri Che Mat.

Koh went missing in February 2017, and Amri in November the previous year.

Caged spokesman Rama Ramanathan told The Malaysian Insight that it wants to know the task force’s terms of reference.

“The Home Ministry must show urgency in this matter. They must explain the task force’s role.

“Are they going to investigate the validity of the Suhakam report, or investigate Special Branch, which the report said was involved in the abductions?”

He questioned whether the task force will take over the probe into the missing duo from the current investigating officers, and whether it will regularly report to the activists’ families and Suhakam.

The Home Ministry has not properly constituted the task force to bring to book the perpetrators, he said.

“We are dismayed by the secrecy surrounding the terms of reference of the task force formed by the ministry to investigate Special Branch (officers) who abducted the men.

“Caged wonders whether any of the seven persons who, to date, have accepted nominations to the task force has seen the terms of reference.”

Earlier this month, Putrajaya announced two new appointments to the task force, following an outcry from civil groups over the original selection of members.

Lawyer Roger Tan and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission inspection and consultancy assistant commissioner Azian Umar were the new additions.

Former police legal affairs chief Mokhtar Mohd Nor withdrew from the task force after the outcry.

The task force’s other members are former high court judge Rahim Uda, Bukit Aman Integrity and Standards Compliance Department director Zamri Yahya, Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission operations director Muhammad Bukhari Ab Hamid, Attorney-General’s Chambers legal officer (public prosecution) Mohd Sophian Zakaria and Home Ministry Police Force Commission secretary Mohd Russaini Idrus.

Caged previously objected to three of the members – Rahim, Zamri and Mokhtar – citing conflict of interest.

The group has also questioned whether the other members objected to Rahim and Zamri’s appointment, saying the duo’s presence might discredit the entire task force.

“We reiterate that the task force will remain bogus for as long as Rahim and Zamri remain in it, and for as long as the terms of reference are not in accordance with Suhakam’s recommendations.”

Koh, 62, was abducted by masked men in Jalan SS4B/10, Petaling Jaya, on February 13, 2017. Amri disappeared on November 24, 2016 after leaving his home in Kangar.

A Suhakam inquiry has concluded that they were victims of enforced disappearance.

Inquiry panel chairman Mah Weng Kwai had said based on lengthy deliberations on both cases, it was deduced that individuals or groups operating with the support of state agents were involved in the activists’ disappearance.

He had said the panel was of the view that the abductions were carried out by agents of the state, namely Special Branch based at the federal police headquarters. – July 26, 2019.