Let Task Force Members Do Their Job Says Muhyiddin

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Home Affairs Minister Muhyiddin Yassin (centre) says ‘one person will not be able to influence anything’. He is flanked by IGP Abdul Hamid Bador and Registrar of Societies director-general Masyati Abang Ibrahim.KUALA LUMPUR: Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today downplayed concerns over conflict of interest in the composition of members of the task force set up to investigate the disappearance of pastor Raymond Koh and activist Amri Che Mat
He was confident the inclusion of Mokhtar Mohd Noor, who formerly led the Legal Department of the police force and was directly involved in the investigations into Amri’s disappearance, would not jeopardise the credibility of the task force
“I have received more information concerning Mokhtar’s involvement (in the case involving Amri). He was present once during the Suhakam inquiry into the disappearance of both men, but he was not directly involved in the proceedings
“I am confident this matter will not jeopardise the credibility of the task force. There are many members in the task force. One person will not be able to influence anything, if there is any intent to do so
“In any case, a former High Court judge is the chair of the task force. I am confident, give them room to carry out their tasks,” he said at a press conference after attending “Program Kelestarian Pertubuhan” at Rumah Puspanita here today
Also present were Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador and Registrar of Societies (RoS) director-general Masyati Abang Ibrahim
Muhyiddin was responding to criticisms over the composition of the task force raised by the families of Koh and Amri and a number of civil society organisations
Amri’s wife, Norhayati Mohd Ariffin, voiced concern over possible conflict of interest in the appointment of Mokhtar, who formerly led the Legal Department of the police force and was directly involved in the investigations into Amri’s disappearance
Koh’s wife, Susanna Liew, also took issue with Mokhtar’s involvement, adding that the task force’s line-up did not include “any woman or any other member of a different race or religion to reflect the composition of this country”
A number of civil society organisations also raised objections against the composition of the task force, citing “indisputable” conflict of interest, and a “lack of will” to bring justice to the families of the victims
Koh has been missing since Feb 13, 2017, and Amri, the founder of NGO Perlis Hope, went missing on Nov 24, 2016
In April, a Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) inquiry concluded that they were the victims of enforced disappearance
The panel also accused the Special Branch of being behind the disappearances. - FMT

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