THE Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) public inquiry into missing activist Amri Che Mat kicks off today, as the panel seeks to determine if he is a victim of state-sanctioned enforced disappearance.

The inquiry resumes today a week after hearings on missing Pastor Raymond Koh’s case were suspended.

Today’s probe will be centred on Amri, the founder of charity group Perlis Hope, who went missing without a trace on November 24, 2016.

Amri was abducted 550m from his home in Padang Behor, Kangar. Police later found his car in Bukit Chabang.

The 43-year-old, who was part of the 1997 Mount Everest Malaysian expedition team, had reportedly told his eldest daughter that he was going out that night. He has four daughters, aged 19, 17, 15 and 10.

In her police report, Amri’s wife, Norhayati Ariffin, said there had been unknown cars and motorcycles parked near their home the day the activist went missing.

Norhayati, who has been subpoenaed as a witness, is expected to testify today.

Perlis Hope spokesman Mohd Aizat Zahid said Norhayati and the family were still reeling from Amri’s disappearance.

On January 16, the inquiry was in the final stages of investigating the disappearance of Koh when proceedings had to be suspended after police revealed that they had arrested a suspect in connection with his abduction.

Suhakam then decided to suspend the inquiry into Koh’s abduction, as the case is now in court.

Koh was abducted in February last year.

The inquiry is chaired by Suhakam commissioners Mah Weng Kwai, Aishah Bidin and Dr Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Saleh.

The panel aims to determine whether Koh and Amri’s abduction, as well as the disappearance of two others – Joshua and Ruth Hilmy – in 2016, are cases of enforced disappearance sanctioned by the state.

The Malaysian Insight brings you live updates of today’s proceedings.

5.05pm: Amri family lawyers ask Norhayathi what does she think of the investigations so far. 

Norhayati says she is disappointed because the police have not updated her on the case. 

“It has been one year, and my children are still wondering about Amri. 

“I’m a single mother now, and have to raise four teenagers. Amri is a person who brings happiness and love to help people. 

“I pray that this inquiry will bring some closuer to what had happened to him. 

“I know that he is still around and can be saved.” 

The inquiry ends and will resume on January 24. 

4.50pm: Amri family lawyers ask Norhayathi to explain her trip to federal police headquarter at Bukit Aman to check on the progress of investigations into Amri’s disappearance. 

Norhayati says she went there with Amri’s two friends and her three children. 

“I asked an officer to meet any senior officers there. The officers said no senior officers were around as they were all in a meeting.

“I then showed them the information on Amri. 

“The officer then called a few other officers, who came and spoke to us. One of the police officers said there was no information on Amri.” 

4.40pm: Amri family lawyers ask Norhayati about the second police report that she lodged. 

“I made the police report because I was not satisfied with the police because they had not done anything pertaining to the case, whether on Amri or for the safety of my family,” Norahayati says. 

“Three days after Amri went missing, Perlis police chief Abdul Rashid had in a media report refuted allegations that Amri was kidnapped. 

“How can the senior police officer make a statement like that even without conducting a detailed investigation.” 

Norhayati says after that, Amri’s friends started their own investigations and found evidence of criminal elements involved. 

“How come the police, who are capable, couldn’t find any evidence.”

4.20pm: Amri family lawyers ask Norhayati about the police report she lodged a day after he went missing.

“I went to the police station at 10am to make the police report. 

“At 1.30pm, a plainclothes police officer asked me to enter a room and asked about Amri. He said he knew Amri. 

“He only asked me about Amri’s Shia activities.”

Amri’s lawyers then ask Norhayati what did she reply to the police officer. 

She says Amri was involved in foreign exchange trading and had founded Perlis Hope. 

“The conversation only lasted 10 minutes.”

4.15pm: Amri family lawyers ask Norhayati about his meeting with his friend, Ustaz Jamil, the night the activist went missing. 

Norhayati says Jamil had told her he was supposed to meet Amri at a restaurant in Jitra, Kedah, on November 24, 2016. 

“He was supposed to meet (Jamil) but he didn’t show up. Jamil also told me that he didn’t know where Amri was. 

“Jamil said when Amri didn’t show up he called Amri at 11.30pm. Jamil said Amri sounded anxious. He just replied ‘ok’ to Jamil and hung up the phone.”

3.40pm: Amri family lawyers ask Norhayati to elaborate about those who she accuses of condemning Amri and Perlis Hope. 

Norhayati says a month before Amri went missing, he was concerned about a Facebook posting by Perlis mufti Asri. 

“Amri believes he was a target when he saw Asri and the Perlis Mufti’s Department’s Facebook posts. 

“This was about Asri meeting DCP Awaluddin Jadid and Perlis Mufti Department about investigations into Perlis Hope. The meeting was to gather information about Perlis Hope.

“On Facebook, Asri posted his thanks to Awaluddin and said they had shared information. 

“He also advised Perlis folk to be wary of Perlis Hope.”

Mah says the inquiry will summon Asri to testify. 

Amri family lawyers then ask Norhayati where did she saw the post, to which she replied that Amri had showed her the post on his handphone. 

3.10pm: Amri family lawyers show Norhayati a picture of the meeting at the Perlis Mufti Department office a day after the raid.

Norhayati identifies Amri and Maza in the picture.

Amri family lawyers ask why the activist had been called to the office.

Norhayati says her husband had been called to attend as the issue was related to Shia teachings.

“Amri, who attended the meeting, said he was told by the department that they have no issues if Shia teachings were being taught behind close doors.”

Amri family lawyers ask her to confirm the matter, to which she replied, “yes”.

Mah asks Norhayati if Amri had been involved in Shia activities, to which she says she cannot answer.

Amri family lawyers interjected, saying the issue, which involved the authorities, should be discussed privately.

The Suhakam panel and lawyers take a break to discuss the matter in the office next to the inquiry.

2.45pm: Amri family lawyers ask Norhayati if she had received threats or ransom demands from any individual.

She says there had been no threats, but Amri was the target of the Perlis Mufti Department, police and a politician.

“He was asked to be investigated, by the department and the politician, because he was suspected of being involved in Shia teachings.

“This is a serious accusation, to the point that it involved Special Branch.”

2.35pm: Norhayati is shown four pictures, and asked to identify the Perlis Hope volunteers in the pictures.

She says in the first picture, the volunteers are giving out rice; in the second, they are building a house; in the third, they are distributing bubur lambuk; and, in the fourth, they are carrying out gotong-royong at a single mothers’ home.

She says the pictures were taken in 2016, before Amri’s disappearance.

When the lawyers ask if she could recognise anyone in the pictures, she identifies Amri, in between sobs.

2.20pm: Amri family lawyers ask Norhayati if Perlis Hope practised discrimination in helping the poor.

She says the organisation does not discriminate.

“We help everyone, from all religions and races.

“We also get our funding and contributions from well-wishers.

“We help single mothers, build homes for the poor, and we help children with chronic diseases.”

1.05pm: Commissioner Aishah asks Norhayati why she thinks that Shahidan and the Perlis Mufti Department had condemned Perlis Hope.

Norhayati says they were uneasy with Perlis Hope’s activities in helping the poor.

“Perlis Hope built a home for the poor near Shahidan’s house, and we also give out rice to the poor.

“Maybe, (they thought) the people would think that Perlis Hope is doing all the activities, and they aren’t doing much to help the poor.”

Aishah asks Norhayati if she can prove that Shahidan had condemned Perlis Hope on Facebook.

Norhayati says Amri had showed her his Facebook status on Shahidan.

“I can’t remember what he (Shahidan) had said.”

The inquiry takes an hour break for lunch.

12.55pm: Suhakam commissioner Mah asks Norhayati about Perlis Hope’s activities.

She says Perlis Hope aids the poor by helping them build homes and giving out bags of rice.

“We help out everyone from all races. Malays, Chinese, Indians.

“We get the funds to do charity work from well-wishers, who make contributions.”

Mah asks if Perlis Hope is connected to any religious activities.

Norhayati says it is not a political or religious organisation.

“We are just helping the poor.”

12.45pm: Suhakam officers ask if Norhayati had received ransom demands for Amri.

She says she had not received such demands.

Suhakam officers ask her when was the last time she met police.

Norhayati says the last time she spoke with police was when she lodged a police report on December 8, 2016.

“After that, I used to contact Inspector Koh for updates, and he informed me that the case had been sent to Bukit Aman.

“I went to Bukit Aman after April 2017, and the officers there said there was no case on Amri’s disappearance.”

12.35pm: Norhayati says in 2015, about 20 officers from the Perlis Mufti Department and police came in 10 cars to raid her house.

“The Perlis mufti was also there and asked to come into the house, and I didn’t allow them to enter the house because my husband was not at home.

“Police started shouting at my youngest child, who was outside the house, asking ‘Where is your old man?’.

“Then they broke into Perlis Hope, which is located next to my house.

“They came and took statements about the activities of Perlis Hope, and left.”

Norhayati says Maza then asked her to come to the department’s office.

“I went to his office the next day.”

12.25pm: Suhakam officers ask Norhayati if she suspects any individuals over Amri’s disappearance.

She alleges that the Perlis Mufti Department and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Shahidan Kassim were involved.

“The Perlis Mufti Department had condemned Perlis Hope’s activities in helping the poor. Shahidan had also condemned Perlis Hope on Facebook.

“Perlis Mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin (Maza) had also warned people to be wary about Perlis Hope’s activities (allegedly due to connections with) violence.”

12.10pm: Suhakam officers ask Norhayati what was at the site where Amri’s car was found.

She says the car’s road tax, Perlis Hope stickers, a wallet, a handphone and some documents were missing.

“Part of the number plate was broken, and the windows were shattered.”

11.55am: Suhakam officers ask Norhayati when was the last time she saw Amri. 

Norhayati says she last saw her husband at 11.30pm on November 24. 

“We picked up our daughter at 7pm and went back home. He then went to sleep and asked me to wake him up at 10.30pm.

“He then told me he was going to meet a friend, and left at 11.30pm,” she said, adding that she has not seen Amri since then.

Norhayati says she made two police reports on Amri’s disappearance at the Kangar police station. 

“An Inspector Koh at the station called me five times to record statements.

“I kept asking about any progress on the case, but they kept saying they have no information.”

11.45am: Suhakam officers ask Norhayati when did she realise that Amri had gone missing. 

She says she noticed that he had gone missing on the morning of November 25, 2016. 

“I got a call from my sibling at 6am, informing me that he got a call from police that they had found his (Amri’s) car abandoned at a school in Kangar. 

“When he went there, forensic officers were going through the car, which is a Toyota Fortuner, with the number plate WB1214.”

11.30am: The Suhakam inquiry into the missing Amri starts with his wife, Norhayati, being called as the first witness. – January 22, 2018.