Norhayati Ariffin said the probe has been anything but prompt, impartial, or transparent, forcing Suhakam to step in because of the failure by police to hold an effective investigation.

She said she was sad that Amri’s fate and whereabouts were still a mystery eight years after his disappearance, and also expressed disappointment at the government’s failure to provide any semblance of justice.

“And I am astonished because the home ministry especially has taken steps to ensure there is no transparency in the investigations. The latest was the government’s efforts to suppress the special task force’s report from being made public.

“As such, I urge the home minister to not issue statements that do not reflect reality,” she said in a statement.

Saifuddin reportedly said in a written parliamentary reply that police investigations into the disappearance of Amri and Pastor Raymond Koh had not ceased.

The home minister said efforts to locate the victims and suspects involved would not stop.

Amri left his home in Kangar at about 11.30pm on Nov 24, 2016. His car was found at a construction site at the Bukit Cabang Sports School early the next morning.

Suhakam held a public inquiry into the disappearance of Koh and Amri between 2017 and 2019, and concluded that they were victims of enforced disappearance carried out by the state, specifically by the Special Branch.

The special task force set up to look into Amri’s disappearance had concluded that the police were incompetent in handling the missing activist’s case.