The Malaysian Bar notes that the government of Malaysia has withdrawn its appeal against the High Court’s ruling granting the family of Koh Keng Joo (Raymond Koh) access to the cabinet’s special task force report on his enforced disappearance, and the Court of Appeal’s award of legal costs to the family.
It has been seven years since the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) issued its final decision on the public inquiry into the disappearance of Raymond Koh.
Suhakam found that this was a case of enforced disappearance by state actors.
Enforced disappearances violate practically every article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
At the 80th annual general meeting, with regard to the enforced disappearances of Raymond Koh, Amri Che Mat, Joshua Hilmy and Ruth Sitepu, the Malaysian Bar unanimously adopted a resolution to condemn enforced disappearances and to urge legal reforms to prevent and address enforced disappearance in Malaysia. [The resolution condemned] enforced disappearances as a grave violation of fundamental human rights that causes lasting and unjust harm to victims and their families, and urged the government of Malaysia to:
- take immediate and concrete steps to fully, transparently and effectively investigate the enforced disappearances of the four individuals, to disclose the truth regarding their fate and whereabouts, to ensure accountability of all those responsible, and to provide their families with access to truth, justice and effective remedies
- immediately accede and unreservedly become a state party to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance
- enact laws to expressly and adequately criminalise enforced disappearances in accordance with international standards
- ensure that all allegations of enforced disappearances are promptly, impartially, independently and effectively investigated; and that those responsible, regardless of rank or position, are prosecuted and punished in accordance with the law
The Malaysian Bar hopes that the families of Raymond Koh, Amri Che Mat, Joshua Hilmy and Ruth Sitepu will obtain the answers they have long been waiting for, immediately.
The agony of not knowing is an unwarranted and inhumane punishment inflicted upon the families. – Bar
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Anand Raj is the president of the Malaysian Bar.
The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.
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