CFM wants PM to meet families of 'enforced disappearance' victims

The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) said today that it will be writing to Dr Mahathir Mohamad to seek a meeting between the prime minister and the families of the purported victims of enforced disappearances.

"We have already engaged in discussions with some ministers, as well as during our meetings with the prime minister himself, where we brought up the issue of pastor Raymond Koh's disappearance," CFM chairperson Archbishop Julian Leow said today.

"After this, CFM will be writing to the prime minister to secure an appointment with the families of enforced disappearance victims."

Leow was speaking at a press conference in Petaling Jaya held by CFM and Koh's family – during which Susanna Liew, the wife of the missing pastor, delivered a copy of the Suhakam report on his disappearance and that of activist Amri Che Mat.

Leow said the meeting they are seeking with Mahathir would not only involve the victims' families and Christian groups, but would rope in representatives from other faiths as well.

At today's press conference, CFM also urged the government to investigate the Special Branch – the police arm linked by Suhakam to Koh and Amri's disappearances.

"Now that this has been established by Suhakam, immediate action must be taken to investigate the Special Branch of Bukit Aman, and to secure the release of Amri and Koh.

"Any allegations of any breach of any law can be investigated, and due process pursued in accordance with the rule of law, but they (Amri and Koh) must be produced immediately," he said.

Koh's daughter Esther said that the Suhakam report was delivered to CFM to seek its help to engage Putrajaya in her father's case.

"We hope that the government will take up this recommendation by Suhakam, and set up a task force to investigate who abducted Koh and Amri," she stressed.

"The police (personnel) and those involved should be held responsible and brought to justice.

"We would like assurance from the government that such crimes will never happen again in our beloved land."

Earlier this month, the Suhakam inquiry panel chaired by commissioner Mah Weng Kwai concluded that Amri and Raymond, who vanished in 2016 and 2017 respectively, were victims of enforced disappearance.

The three-member panel also unanimously determined that the perpetrators were members of the Special Branch. - mkini