“Enforced Disappearance” Accusations on IGP

Malaysia’s human rights commission (SUHAKAM) accuses Malaysian police and former IGP (Inspector General Police) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar for the abduction of Christian pastor Raymond Koh and Muslim social activist Amri Che Mat. They claim it was an “enforced disappearance” carried out by the Special Branch.

Enforced disappearance is when someone goes missing after state officials grab them wherever they were without consent, and later denying it or refusing to give information about their whereabouts.

SUHAKAM cited the victims’ religious activities as the reason for their abduction. Koh was a Catholic pastor, rumoured to have been abducted by Muslim vigilantes amidst the rise of an intolerant strain of Islam in Malaysia.

Whereas for Amri, he was rumoured to be a preacher for Shi’ite ideology, a branch of Islam that Malaysian Muslims reject. Some also believe the kidnappers were similar to Koh’s. Both victims were also deemed to carry out proselytization.

Additionally, an NGO known as Caged (Citizens Against Enforced Disappearances) made statements blaming the former IGP for lying about the inquiry.

Other than that, Caged urged the federal government to suspend police officers in charge of the case, along with current IGP Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun, who was head of the Special Branch during the incidents.

On another hand, the former IGP threatens to sue SUHAKAM for their claims. Khalid denies falsifying his testimony and called it a blind accusation. He also demands an apology and would take legal action for defamation if they refused.

Koh has been missing since February 13, 2017 when he was abducted from his car at Kelana Jaya, Selangor, while Amri was last seen on November 24, 2016 in Perlis.