The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) will conduct a public inquiry in October into the disappearances of Pastor Raymond Koh, social activist Amri Che Mat, Pastor Joshua Hilmy and his wife Ruth Hilmi.

"In accordance with Suhakam's mandate, the inquiry will consider, among others, whether these cases are cases of enforced or involuntary disappearances, as defined under the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED)," the commission said in a statement today.

ICPPED defines enforced disappearance as the arrest, detention, abduction or any other form of deprivation of liberty by agents of the state or by persons, or groups of persons, acting with the authorisation, support or acquiescence of the state.

The instrument was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2006. Malaysia is not a party to the ICPPED...