KUALA LUMPUR : A former Suhakam commissioner has applauded the government for the extradition of four suspects in connection with the Wang Kelian mass graves.
However, he believes important questions still remain unanswered over the case.
"Who are the Malaysians, private citizens or enforcement personnel that enabled such a racket to go unabated for a long period and allowed so many deaths to occur?," asked Jerald Joseph, who has been pushing for a transparent investigation on the tragedy since it garnered public attention in 2015.
Jerald claimed that it is impossible for the Wang Kelian trafficking camp to survive without any support from Malaysian collaborators.
"When will the Malaysians involved be brought to justice? Thailand charged a long list of people, from 5-star generals to local officials in the first year.
"But where are the Malaysians who are part of it?," asked Jerald who is currently the Chair of CSO Platform for Reform.
Jerald hoped that the government would update the public on efforts being made to tackle trafficking and smuggling networks in the country.
"Corruption seems to be the underlying reason why this crime was possible. The task to fight corruption at all levels must be proven if we want to fight trafficking, if not the victims without names will be forever forgotten," he added.
A declassified report by a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) previously stated that no Malaysian citizens, whether civilians or public officers were involved in the human trafficking syndicate of the Wang Kelian case.
The report further added that the involvement of Malaysians was limited to being "tekong" (middlemen) for illegal immigrants to be taken to determined destinations in Malaysia.
Yesterday, four Thai nationals were charged with human trafficking in connection with the discovery of transit camps and mass graves in Wang Kelian in 2015.
The four are Arun Kaeofainok, 30, Jepha Lapi-E, 51, Somphon A-dam, 51, and Amree Nesalaeh, 58 who were charged separately under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (Atipsom) 2007.
The charge carries up to 15 years imprisonment upon conviction.
All the accused nodded that they understood the charge when it was read to them in Thai language by an interpreter. However, no plea was recorded.
Meanwhile, Perlis deputy police chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Baderulhisham Baharudin said the hunt for six more foreign suspects wanted in connection with the case is still ongoing.
He said the six suspects; five Thai nationals and a Bangladesh national, have been listed on Interpol's Red Notice.
In May 2015, police discovered 139 graves and 106 bodies, believed to be Rohingyas, as well as 29 illegal immigrant detention camps deep in the jungles of Bukit Genting Perah and Bukit Wang Burma, a few hundred metres from the Malaysia-Thai border in Wang Kelian.