POLICE must start an internal investigation into the alleged cover-up of mass killings and human trafficking along the Perlis-Thai border in 2015 to restore public confidence, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Paul Low.

Low, who is in charge of governance, integrity and human rights, told The Malaysian Insight the cabinet discussed it in its weekly meeting yesterday and will get to the bottom of it.

“Such incidents shouldn’t have had happened. They undermine public trust and confidence in the police as an institution responsible for the protection of citizens and non-citizens in the country.

“The police themselves must launch their own investigation. Who is involved? Were the officers and syndicates working together? Why are there discrepancies in (the police’s internal reports)?” he said.

Police’s Integrity and Standard Compliance Department (JIPS) must conduct an independent internal probe, but the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission can only step in if there is a complaint, he said.

“This will be a test of the police’s institutional integrity and capability.”

The former president of corruption watchdog Transparency International Malaysia said cabinet discussed the New Straits Times’ expose yesterday and Putrajaya wants action taken against those responsible.

“This is a high-profile case. Many lives were lost, a great deal of cruelty and human rights violations were committed. The DPM (Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) also said we need to get to the root causes,” said Low.

The discovery of mass graves along the Thai-Malaysia border in 2015 caught international headlines.

Sixty-two people in Thailand, including public officials, were prosecuted while in Malaysia, four foreigners were charged with human trafficking offences.

Human rights group Lawyers for Liberty urged Putrajaya to convene a royal commission of inquiry to probe into the alleged cover-up. – December 21, 2017.