What happened to Wang Kelian RCI findings, asks group

One of the abandoned camps in Wang Kelian, Perlis, where more than 100 skeletal remains believed to be those of Rohingya refugees were discovered. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: A Penang-based group against human trafficking today questioned the fate of the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) findings on the mass graves discovered in Wang Kelian, Perlis five years ago, asking when the report would be revealed to the public as promised last September.

Penang Stop Human Trafficking also asked if anyone would be prosecuted based on the findings of the RCI, which met for 17 days and recorded statements from 48 witnesses.

“In Thailand, major figures in Thai institutions and agencies were arrested some time ago and charged.

“Today, not a single Malaysian has ever been brought to account in Malaysia despite widespread scepticism that the camps could not have existed without official knowledge.”

More than 100 skeletal remains believed to be those of Rohingya refugees and close to 150 graves were discovered in the hills of the border town in 2015.

In a statement, the group said the Cabinet was supposed to have received the findings in January after they were presented to the king.

It spoke of claims that the RCI was nothing but a “delaying tactic” to prevent anyone from being held accountable for the discovery.

“Five years later, is this what we should believe? Or has the commission come up with a serious report and will the government publish it?”

It added that revealing the commission’s findings was the only way for the government to show its commitment to ensuring that anyone involved in the “systematic murder, violation and exploitation of human brings” would be brought to justice.

“Wang Kelian has for far too long been a blot on our Malaysian credibility. Yet we are still waiting. The families and friends of the victims of those murdered are still waiting. How long more?”

The RCI was led by former chief justice Arifin Zakaria, aided by panel members Noorbahri Baharuddin, Razali Ismail, Junaidah Abd Rahman, Nazirah Hussain and Tan Seng Giaw.

Although four individuals were charged in court over the matter, critics said these were only small-time traffickers. - FMT