PUTRAJAYA: The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to probe into the human trafficking and mass graves in Wang Kelian was concluded today, and the report is expected to be presented before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah in September.
RCI chairman Tun Arifin Zakaria said the commission had two months to prepare the report.
“This RCI is one of the methods to prepare our report; by gathering information from witnesses who had the knowledge of what actually happened at Wang Kelian.
“After today, the commission will have meetings in order to prepare the report, which will be presented to the King in early September InsyaAllah,” he told reporters after the 17th session today.
Arifin said generally, he was satisfied with the information furnished to the commission.
“We, more or less have exhausted whatever (means) available. (But) of course, if possible we want to get information from witnesses from Thailand. However, we did not get cooperation from Thailand (authorities).
“So, it’s quite difficult and furthermore, we do not have the power to summon them (the witnesses from Thailand),” he said.
Asked on possibility for any new witnesses to be called in, Arifin replied: “No, but generally I am satisfied with whatever information that has been furnished to us.
“The police have tried their level best to assist us.”
He said the commission would also include some recommendations in the report to the government.
“Based on the information that we have gathered, we will give some recommendations for improvement particularly on border control and cooperation with Thailand.”
Asked whether the report will be made public, Arifin said it’s up to the government.
“That’s not our prerogative. Based on the terms of reference, RCI was established to prepare a report to be submitted to the government.”
Meanwhile, former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Norian Mai, who is the RCI deputy chairman, did not rule out the possibility for the police to reopen its investigation into Wang Kelian.
“However, it depends on the findings after discussion with the commission members.
“If there is a need for it (to reopen the investigation), I believe the RCI will recommend as such.”
When asked on his thought of the police force in handling the issue after 17 days of RCI proceedings, Norian said: “I believe, for the time being, it is best for me not to comment on that (as I’m) afraid that it (opinion) will be different from RCI findings. So, I reserve my comment on that,” he said.
The RCI first commenced on Apr 17, with a total of 48 witnesses were called to testify.
The other members of the RCI are former chief prosecutor Datuk Noorbahri Baharuddin, former Suhakam chief commissioner Tan Sri Razali Ismail, former head of research at the Attorney-General’s Chambers Datuk Junaidah Abdul Rahman, former ambassador to Thailand Datuk Nazirah Hussin and former Public Accounts Committee deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw.
The RCI was set up to look into the March 2015 discovery of illegal immigrants, transit camps and 147 mass graves in Wang Kelian.
The skeletal remains of 130 people, believed to be victims of a human trafficking syndicate, were found buried in the hills of Wang Kelian.
The tragedy which involved victims from the ethnic Rohingya community of Myanmar and Bangladesh attracted the attention of the international community.