SUHAKAM INQUIRY | The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) has requested for missing pastor Raymond Koh’s immigration records to determine if his movements were previously monitored by the Immigration Department as part of its 'suspects list'.

Representing Koh and his wife Susanna Liew, lawyer Philip Koh said the couple had been stopped multiple times at immigration checkpoints between August 2011 and June 2012.

Today, Immigration deputy director for security and passports Hamid Momong produced records to show the inquiry that Koh had not been blacklisted from leaving the country, though noting that records for 2012 could not be found.

However, Hamid revealed the existence of a separate 'suspects list', and could not rule out if Koh had been on the list because he had not inspected it.

“In principle, two things that can happen when you are on this suspects list – one, you are refused immigration services (and banned from travelling) or two, you are still allowed to travel but your records will be written down.

“Your records of leaving and entering the country will then be handed over to the agency that requested it,” he explained.

When questioned if agencies like the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) could request for such information, Hamid said that all enforcement agencies could do so provided they had sufficient grounds.

“In my experience, they (Jakim) have not requested for anyone to be on the list, but they can if they have the power to investigate or obtain any powers through the Syariah Court."

Hamid also noted that he was unaware if the pastor had been monitored by any other government agencies or departments.

This prompted Suhakam commissioner and inquiry chief Mah Weng Kwai to request for the list in question.

“Please give us the suspects list, for the same years (2011 and 2012),” he said, asking Hamid to produce it by Sept 3, the date for the next hearing of the inquiry.

The inquiry into Koh’s disappearance resumed today after it was abruptly halted in January.

Police had ordered the inquiry to cease after part-time worker Lam Chang Nam was charged for kidnapping the pastor, arguing that the case was now a court matter.

Liew: Time for answers

Observing today’s proceedings were Koh’s wife, Susanna Liew and son, Jonathan Koh.

Speaking to the press afterwards, Liew hoped the Suhakam inquiry into her husband’s disappearance would finally yield answers.

Despite public assurances from de facto Law Minister Liew Vui Keong, she said her family and those of missing persons Amri Che Mat, Joshua Hilmy and his wife Ruth Hilmy, continue to be left in the dark by the police.

“We are getting really disappointed because it has been more than 600 days for some (families), and that is a long time to wait.

“(There is) the uncertainty of not knowing what happened to them and (when) there is no closure, it is hard for the family to go on like this.

“I just hope someone will have the political will to look into this really seriously because they (the missing persons) are human beings ... I hope the Pakatan Harapan will do something about this very soon,” she said.

On Feb 13 last year, Koh was abducted from his vehicle in broad daylight by a group of men in a what appeared to be a professionally executed operation. Amri and the Hilmys were taken in November 2016.

Aside from the Koh case, Suhakam is presently probing Amri’s disappearance.

The Citizen Action Group on Enforced Disappearance (Caged) had claimed that these disappearances were state-linked.

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