PM confirms new probe on missing pastor, activist after IGP steps down

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said a new investigation would be launched based on Suhakam's findings on the disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh and activist Amri Che Mat.

However, he said this would take place after a new inspector-general of police is appointed to replace Mohamed Fuzi Harun, who is slated to retire next month.

“We will start another (probe) and open a new investigation. But to do this, we will wait because the accusation is directed at the present IGP.

“Wait until there is a change of IGP. We will then set up a group to study if there is substance in the hearsay evidence by Suhakam,” he told a press conference in Putrajaya this afternoon.

On Wednesday, Suhakam revealed its findings on the inquiry held into Koh and Amri's disappearance in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

The human rights commission claimed that the police special branch was responsible for the pair's abduction. At the time, Fuzi was heading the special branch.

“The direct and circumstantial evidence in Koh's case proves, on a balance of probabilities, that he was abducted by state agents namely, the special branch, Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur," said Suhakam commissioner Mah Weng Kwai.

Following this, Fuzi said he would need to read the report in full before commenting while former home minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi denied ordering the pair's abduction.

On the same day, Mahathir had described the accusation against the special branch as hearsay and urged Suhakam to provide evidence.

Responding to the prime minister, Mah yesterday said Section 14(1)(d) of the Suhakam Act 1999 which states that the inquiry is not constrained by the strict standards of proof observed in civil or criminal proceedings.

“So, hearsay becomes admissible. We (the panel) were mindful of this. A lot of what was said (during the inquiry) was hearsay evidence.

“And so having applied the law to say it is admissible, the next important thing is how do we evaluate and assess the evidence, how much weight do we attach to such evidence,” he added. - Mkini