Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has defended those appointed to the task force formed to investigate the disappearances of pastor Raymond Koh and Perlis activist Amri Che Mat.
Responding to unhappiness raised by the duo’s families over the task force’s overall composition, Mahathir said: “We cannot please everybody. Some people will be happy, some people will not be happy.
“I cannot guarantee the satisfaction of 100 percent for the people involved,” Mahathir said during a press conference after launching the National Rural Development Plan at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) this morning.
“Let me look into any complaints, then we will deal with it and improve,” Mahathir added when asked whether he had concerns over the ability of the task force to carry out its mandate.
Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday announced the setting up of the six-membertask force, led by former High Court judge Abdul Rahim Uda.
Koh’s family later pointed out that there was no woman in the task force and that it did not reflect the multiracial spirit of the country.
Together with Amri’s wife Norhayati Mohd Ariffin, Koh’s family also objected to the inclusion of former Royal Malaysian Police Legal Unit chief Moktar Mohd Noor in the task force.
They pointed out that a police officer who participated in the hearing of the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), which judged the two men to be victims of enforced disappearances, should not have been appointed.
The task force has been given six months to reinvestigate the alleged enforced disappearances of Koh and Amri.
The government mooted the task force following the Suhakam inquiry panel finding in April that the police were involved in both disappearances.
In an immediate reaction, human rights NGO Suaram said it is baffled by the answers from the prime minister.
Suaram’s executive director Sevan Doraisamy said the establishment of the task force is intended to bring the perpetrators who orchestrated the disappearance of these individuals to justice.
The task force should comprise independent individuals and experts that could uncover the hidden truths behind the disappearance of the two individuals and ensure justice is done for the victims and their families, he said.
“The presence of police personnel within the task force is absurd as there is substantial doubt as to whether they can conduct the investigation without being partial to their colleagues; or that they would not unduly influence the course of the task force; or whether they would tip off the perpetrators in the course of the task force’s investigations.“
“The prime minister is correct. The government cannot please everyone. The question is, why did the government choose to please the alleged perpetrators by forming a compromised task force and not please Malaysians who are seeking justice for the disappeared?” Sevan asked.
– M’kini
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