KUALA LUMPUR (4 AUGUST 2026) – The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) is deeply concerned that the Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold the stay of the High Court’s orders relating to the investigation into the enforced disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh will further impede efforts to establish the truth and achieve accountability. The ruling also maintains the stay on the enforcement of the damages awarded by the High Court.
While SUHAKAM fully respects the independence of the judiciary and the judicial process, the Commission is deeply concerned that the continued delay in implementing the High Court’s orders will further prolong the search for truth and justice in a case that has remained unresolved for more than nine years.
In its landmark 2019 Public Inquiry, SUHAKAM concluded that Pastor Raymond Koh was the victim of an enforced disappearance carried out by agents of the State. In November 2025, the High Court similarly found the Government and the police liable for his enforced disappearance and ordered, among others, that investigations be reopened. Those findings represented an important step towards accountability and offered renewed hope to the family that the truth would finally be uncovered.
The passage of time inevitably increases the risk that evidence may deteriorate, witnesses may become unavailable, and investigative opportunities may be irretrievably lost. Delays in cases involving alleged enforced disappearance not only undermine the effectiveness of investigations but also prolong the suffering of families who have endured years of uncertainty regarding the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones.
Enforced disappearance constitutes one of the gravest violations of human rights. It violates multiple fundamental rights, including the rights to life, liberty, security of person, recognition before the law, and access to an effective remedy. The continuing uncertainty surrounding the fate of the disappeared also inflicts prolonged psychological suffering on their families, who themselves are recognised as victims under international human rights standards.
SUHAKAM reiterates that investigations into alleged enforced disappearances must be prompt, thorough, independent, impartial and effective. Accountability is indispensable not only to provide justice for victims and their families but also to uphold public confidence in the rule of law and ensure that such violations are never repeated. SUHAKAM also renews its call for Malaysia to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED) and to criminalise enforced disappearance as a distinct offence under domestic law. These measures would strengthen Malaysia’s legal framework for preventing enforced disappearances, ensuring accountability, and providing effective remedies for victims and their families.
SUHAKAM stands in solidarity with the family of Pastor Raymond Koh in their continued pursuit of truth and justice. We remain steadfast in advocating for accountability, transparency and respect for human rights, and hope that the legal process will ultimately lead to the full disclosure of the truth regarding Pastor Koh’s disappearance and accountability for those responsible.
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Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
4 August 2026
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MS