The Malaysia Human Rights Commission has called off a public inquiry into the alleged state sanctioned burning of some 28 homes in Kampung Koiboton 1, Beluran in Sabah.

The rare cancellation of such inquiries by Suhakam was due to a suit that was recently filed in relations to the incident.

The alleged incident involved some 50 individuals from 20 families who were rendered homeless after the state Forestry Department razed the area in the Paitan Forest reserve on Oct 1 last year.

In a statement today, Suhakam commissioner Zaitoon Othman ( left ) said one of the alleged victim in the incident had filed the suit on July 16 against the Sabah Forestry Department director and six others over the incident.

She said Section 12 (2) (a) of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999 prohibits Suhakam from conducting inquiries into any matter that is pending in court.

Compelled to act

"In view of the abovementioned provisions and the action taken by the alleged victim, the panel of inquiry has decided not to proceed with the proposed public inquiry," said Zaitoon.

The inquiry was scheduled to take place between Aug 15 to 17 while the panel of inquiry supposed to be headed by Zaiton and assisted by Suhakam commissioners Dr Denison Jayasooria and Khalid Ibrahim.

Shortly after the alleged incident last year, Sabah Forestry Department director Sam Mannan said the houses were destroyed because they were built with illegally felled timber, a violation under the Sabah Forest Enactment 1968.

He also said that the department was compelled to act as the land had been earmarked for commercial activities.