THE Kuala Lumpur High Court has allowed a stay application by the government on an earlier court order to allow limited access to the classified special task force report on the disappearance of social activist Amri Che Mat to his wife Norhayati Mohd Ariffin.

Lawyer Larissa Ann Louis, representing Norhayati, when met by reporters said judge Amarjeet Singh made the decision on June 1. 

“The government of Malaysia filed the application for a stay after filing a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal on May 23 against the order,” she said. 

Senior federal counsel Ahmad Hanir Hambaly confirmed the matter when contacted. 

On May 9, judge Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, in allowing a judicial review bid by Norhayati Mohd Ariffin, 50, ordered the report be released within 30 days to her exclusively.

In her application, Norhayati sought among others a declaration the report prepared by the task force did not fall within the definition of an “official secret” under section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1972.

Norhayati also filed a civil suit against 21 parties, including the government and police, over her husband’s disappearance.

In proceedings before judicial commissioner Su Tiang Joo today, the court ordered the suit trial to continue from June 19 to 22. 

The proceedings were attended by another lawyer representing Norhayati, Surendra Ananth, and senior federal counsel Zetty Zurina Kamaruddin, representing the government. – Bernama, June 7, 2023.