Give Task Force Time To Probe Amri Koh Disappearances Home Minister

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Home Affairs Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has called on the public to accord the special task force time to probe the disappearances of pastor Raymond Koh and social activist Amri Che Mat
The task force, which was formed on June 26 to investigate the alleged enforced disappearances, had been given six months from the date to complete their probe
“They are still carrying out their duties [...]
“We gave six months from the date of appointment, so there is no report sent back to us yet, we wait,” he said in a press conference at the National Registration Department headquarters in Putrajaya
He was responding to queries on the status of the investigations by the task force formed to look into the findings from the Human Right Commission (Suhakam)'s public hearing
The commission, which had released its findings in April, had concluded that the police's Special Branch was involved in the men's disappearances
Koh was kidnapped by masked men in broad daylight in Selangor on Feb 13, 2017, while Perlis-based Amri was abducted on Nov 24, 2016
The special task force is led by retired High Court judge Abdul Rahim Uda
It initially comprised five other members - former Royal Malaysian Police Legal Unit chief Mokhtar Mohd Noor; police Integrity and Standard Compliance Department director Zamri Yahya; director of the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission, Muhammad Bukhari Abdul Hamid; Mohd Sophian Zakaria, a legal officer from the Attorney-General's Chambers' prosecution division; and secretary of the Police Force Commission, Mohd Russaini Idrus
Koh (left) and Amri.However, criticism towards the composition of the task force by the victims' families saw Mokhtar withdrawing himself, and MACC assistant commissioner Azian Umar and independent legal practitioner Roger Tan joining the team
‘We still need Sosma’Meanwhile, Muhyiddin also maintained that the country “still needed” the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) and as such, it should not be repealed
This followed a similar assertion by Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu yesterday that the controversial law - which allows for detention up to 28 days without trial - be amended instead of abolished
Muhyiddin today told reporters that existing laws, aside from Sosma, were not sufficient to tackle terrorism threats in line with developments abroad and locally
“So for us (the Pakatan Harapan government), Sosma is still needed
“[...] if there is no such legal instrument, they (the terrorists) will go free from the clutches of the law and this will threaten national safety,” he said
He pointed out that prior to forming the government, Pakatan Harapan had, in its election manifesto, only promised to review certain provisions in the act and not repeal the entire law. "Please check the manifesto," he said
The manifesto reads that the “Pakatan Harapan government will also abolish draconian provisions” in several acts including Sosma
The Home Affairs Ministry had in April promised that the amendment bill for Sosma would be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat during the July session as the bill was being reviewed by the Attorney-General’s Chambers. That did not take place, however
Yesterday, its deputy minister Aziz Jamman reportedly said the bill will not be tabled during the current sitting as the government still needed more time
Muhyiddin today said the cabinet felt there were several elements in the bill which needed to be refined
Hence, he said the government was working with many bodies and organisations so that “many parties will be satisfied” when the bill is brought to the cabinet and Parliament
Among the matters being reviewed pertain to access to lawyers and the duration of remand periods
“In any case, there is no way we can (table it) in time for this Parliament session. We will bring this to the 2020 session, InsyaAllah,” he said
- Mkini

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