Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the Malaysian government to act swiftly to locate a Myanmar refugee activist and her family after they were allegedly abducted from their home in Ampang Jaya at the beginning of this month.

FMT has reached out to the home ministry and police for comment.

According to HRW, activist Thuzar Maung, her husband Saw Than Tin Win and their three children were abducted by unidentified men on July 4.

The international human rights watchdog said its claim is supported by CCTV footage and witness accounts gathered following the incident.

“We fear that Thuzar and her family were abducted in a planned operation and are at grave risk. The Malaysian government should urgently act to locate the family and ensure their safety,” said HRW’s Asia director, Elaine Pearson, in a statement.

The group claimed that at 4.30pm on the day of the incident, the alleged abductors, who arrived in a car and identified themselves as policemen, got past the security post of the gated community where the activist’s home was located.

“Two hours later, Thuzar was on the phone with a friend, who heard Thuzar yell to her husband that unknown men were entering the house, before the call got disconnected.

“Later that day, the same car and two cars owned by Thuzar’s family were seen leaving the compound,” HRW claimed.

It said CCTV footage from the security booth captured the licence plate of the “police” car.

Malaysian police have since confirmed registration number of the car as fake, the group claimed.

The outspoken Thuzar is a long-time advocate for democracy in Myanmar and of refugee and migrant rights in Malaysia.

She chairs the Myanmar Muslim Refugee Community and Myanmar Migrant Workers Committee, and has also worked closely with Myanmar’s opposition, the National Unity Government of Myanmar.

Thuzar fled Myanmar in 2015. She and her family are recognised by the United Nations High Commission For Refugees as refugees in Malaysia.