‘Set up Wang Kelian RCI’
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Bar Council yesterday called for a Royal Commission of Inquiry to probe the presence of a human-trafficking camp and graves in Wang Kelian, Perlis.
Bar Council president George Varughese said the investigation should look into claims of involvement of enforcement agencies and their attempt to cover up the camp and graves, graft as well as the mastermind behind it.
He said the call was among resolutions adopted by the council at its 72nd annual general meeting held here yesterday.
“We urge the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to conduct an inquiry in relation to breach of rights in the case and submit a report in regard to its investigation, findings and summary.”
This follows a New Straits Times report on Dec 20, which revealed that there were planned large-scale attempts to cover up the Wang Kelian human-trafficking camp and the graves surrounding it.
The council urged the government, specifically the Home Ministry, to increase and boost the skills of the investigation team to identify, detain and prosecute the parties involved in the activities, as well as to strengthen the Anti-trafficking in Persons and Anti-smuggling of Migrants team.
Varughese was re-elected as the council’s president for the 2018/2019 term, while Abdul Fareed Abdul Gafoor was elected vice-president.
Fifteen resolutions were tabled at the meeting, out of which two were pulled back, six were approved and seven were tabled.
Varughese said resolutions that were not tabled included the prohibition of serving alcohol at all occasions organised by the Malaysian Bar and the state bar, which comes under it, as it was inconsistent with the Legal Profession Act 1976.
An approved resolution was to abolish the execution of the death penalty in the country.