LAWYERS representing missing activist Amri Che Mat’s family in the Suhakam inquiry wants the Perlis Mufti to testify in the hearing as he plays an important part in the case.

Amri’s family lawyer K. Muthiah said that it’s crucial that Mohamad Asri Zainul Abidin be called to assist in the inquiry.

“He plays a vital role (in the inquiry) because in many of the exhibits we have shown, his name, picture and his Facebook postings that he handles, have been repetitively brought up (during the inquiry).

“It’s paramount that he comes,” Muthiah said after the first day of the public inquiry into Amri’s disappearance at the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) office today.

Earlier, Amri’s wife Norhayati Ariffin said she suspects that state religious authorities, Asri and Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Shahidan Kassim are responsible for her husband’s disappearance.

Norhayati had told Suhakam that Asri and Shahidan had condemned her husband’s charitable organisation, Perlis Hope, and its activities of helping the poor.

“Shahidan had also condemned Perlis Hope on Facebook.

“While Asri had warned the people to be wary about Perlis Hope’s activities which (he said was) connected to violence,” said Norhayati, who was the first person to testify in Amri’s public inquiry.

Perlis Hope is a non profit organisation that was founded by Amri to assist the poor, single mothers and children with chronic diseases.

Muthiah said that they already decided before the inquiry started that they will have to get Asri to attend.

“When we went through the facts (of the case) we found that he is a very important material witness to the case.

“We have already submitted his name a few weeks ago to Suhakam that he be called as a witness. Suhakam commissioner Mah Weng Kwai has also said that he will get Suhakam to call Asri.”

Muthiah said that they (Suhakam) will have to subpoena Asri for the inquiry.

“We also hope that Suhakam will call in Shahidan to testify.

“His name keeps cropping up here and there. I hope he comes to clarify (any statements).

“We are not trying to pin anything on him individually. We are just trying to state their opinion on things they have stated.”

Muthiah said that they have yet to ask Suhakam to call Shahidan.

“We have not requested for Shahidan as yet.

“We will have to see how the inquiry progresses. If we feel that his role is quite significant (for the inquiry) we will insist (that he comes) to get a better view of the case.”

Amri’s family is represented by lawyers Phillip Koh, Muthiah, Larissa Ann Louis, Teeru Varasu, K. Muthusamy and Amanda Yong.

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

He was last seen by his wife and family on November 24, 2016.

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

The Suhakam inquiry into four missing people, resumed today after a week’s break.

It is chaired by a panel comprising of Suhakam commissioners Mah Weng Kwai, Aishah Bidin and Dr Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Saleh.

The Suhakam panel aims to determine whether Amri’s abduction, as well as the disappearance of three others – Pastor Raymond Koh, Joshua Hilmy and his wife Ruth – are cases of enforced disappearances sanctioned by the state. – January 22, 2018.