In a statement, it said the investigation into Rama Ramanathan of the Citizen Action Group on Enforced Disappearance was “yet another attempt to intimidate and stymy the work of human rights defenders”.

“Despite the repeated assurances that freedom of expression will be protected by Pakatan Harapan (PH), the assurance has been nothing more than empty promises since PH took over in May 2018.

“PH’s failure to put a halt to the culture of impunity entrenched within the Royal Malaysian Police and end the practice of harassment and intimidation against human rights defenders makes it complicit with the action of the police,” its executive director Sevan Doraisamy said.

Rama, who has been asked to present himself at Bukit Aman on Nov 11, said he was informed that he would be investigated under Section 504 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission Act which dealt with “intentional insult” and “the improper use of network facilities”.

He said the investigation had to do with an Oct 20 article he posted on his blog citing witness accounts of how the sister of activist Jufazli Shi Ahmad might have prevented them from becoming the latest victims of enforced disappearance.

Nurazimah Shi Ahmad was acquitted last month of a charge of obstructing police from arresting Jufazli at her apartment in Cheras in the wee hours of March 16.

The siblings were arrested and Nurazimah was remanded separately for four days.

Sevan said police investigations into human rights defenders were a waste of public resources which would be better spent addressing crimes, tracking down fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, and finding other individuals who have disappeared.

“The home minister must no longer be allowed to hide behind the veil of his ministry and the Cabinet,” he added.

“If the minister is unwilling or incapable of implementing the reforms necessary to put an end to the harassment against human rights defenders, he should resign or be sacked from his position.”