LAW enforcement officials subpoenaed to testify in the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) public inquiry into missing persons must give their full cooperation when proceedings resume tomorrow, head of the inquiry panel Mah Weng Kwai said.

The Suhakam commissioner said one challenge the panel faced in its last round of hearings was the delay in obtaining evidence from police officials who were summoned to testify about the abduction of Pastor Raymond Koh.

“The police said (during the inquiry last year) that the investigations papers (IP) are secret, that investigations are ongoing and that they have not completed them.

“If witnesses take the position that everything is a secret, it impedes the inquiry. We hope to see more cooperation from the police and the witnesses,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Mah said it was crucial the inquiry obtain all the information it needed to reach a conclusion at the end of the hearing, which it hoped to wrap up by March.

The inquiry is probing the disappearances of Koh, social activist Amri Che Mat and Pastor Joshua Hilmi and wife, Ruth.

Hearings on Koh’s case began on October 19 last year. After the last sitting on November 23, it will continue tomorrow and on January 29 and 30. Amri’s case will be heard on January 22, 24 and 25.

The inquiry aims to determine whether the cases are enforced disappearances conducted by the state.

Koh was abducted from his car in the middle of traffic in Petaling Jaya nearly a year ago on February 13 in broad daylight. He was taken away in a convoy of black sports utility vehicles (SUVs).

There has been no ransom demand or any other clues as to his disappearance except for allegations that the pastor, who ran a welfare centre for the poor and needy, had been active in proselytising Christianity to Muslims, which is a crime in Malaysia.

During earlier proceedings, the panel was told by witnesses that Koh’s abduction looked like a well-coordinated police operation. A senior police officer witness, however, said the force had nothing to do with it.

The panel had also tried to view the investigation diary on Koh’s abduction as well as investigation papers, items it has a right to access as evidence under the Suhakam Act.

But police witnesses told the panel that the diary was classified and at first refused to hand it over to the panel. Police had also asked for a postponement of hearing to refer to the Attorney-General’s Chambers as the investigation was ongoing.

Mah had said the panel might as well “pack up and leave” given such delays.

Mah chairs the panel with two other commissioners, Aishah Bidin and Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Saleha.

Nik Salida said the inquiry had told police observers to get the AG’s advice on presenting investigation papers as evidence.

“But they didn’t do that and the reason (given) was that they were busy.

“This inquiry is not only for the victims or their families, it is also of public interest,” she said.

The inquiry into Koh’s case has 15 witnesses including the pastor’s family members, police, eyewitnesses to the abduction and Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) officials. – January 15, 2018.