A SENIOR Special Branch officer will take the stand today at the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia’s (Suhakam) inquiry into missing activist Amri Che Mat.

Deputy Commissioner Awaluddin Jadid was alleged to have met Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin to discuss the civil society group, Perlis Hope, of which Amri was the founder.

Amri’s wife, Norhayati Ariffin, had earlier testified that the Perlis religious authorities were investigating Amri on suspicion of spreading Shia teachings.

Norhayati had also testified that a month before Amri went missing on November 2016, Asri had posted on his Facebook about a meeting between him and Awaluddin to gather information about Perlis Hope.

The post also warned the public to be wary of Perlis Hope.

Perlis Hope was founded by Amri in October 2015 with the aim of helping the poor and needy.

Last week, Perlis Special Branch officer ASP Razman Ramli said there was no evidence to show that Perlis Hope was involved in Shia activities.

Amri went missing on November 24, 2016. He was believed to have been abducted by a group of people in four-wheel-drive vehicles that were seen surrounding his car in Kg Padang Behor, Perlis.

Suhakam is conducting a public inquiry into the disappearance of Amri, Pastor Raymond Koh, Pastor Joshua Hilmy and Joshua’s wife, Ruth, to ascertain if they are cases of enforced disappearance.

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

4.20pm: Nizam asks Awaluddin what role the religious authorities play.

Awaluddin says that to his knowledge they carry out rehabilitation. 

Nizam asks Awaluddin if the religious authorities have their own role pursuant to shariah laws. 

Awaluddin agrees.

The inquiry ends and will resume on July 5.

4pm: Nizam asks if an organisation called Persatuan Kristian Melayu Malaysia (Malay Christian Association Malaysia) exists.

Awaluddin said that there were attempts to register the organisation but the police stopped it (from happening).

Nizam asks Awaluddin if professing to be a Shia is a offence under any civil legislation.

Awaluddin says that as far as he is concerned, there is no such law, but he acts on the fatwa of each state.

Nizam asks Awaluddin if any mufti has said that being a Shia is a offence.

Awaluddin says no.

Nizam asks Awaluddin about a speech he made in 2016 where the Penang mufti said there is nothing wrong with the Shia.

The lawyer says that there is a difference of opinion because not all states are now against the Shia.

Nizam asks Awaluddin if there are concerns about those supporting the Shia.

Awaluddin says that they have to take action before it spreads.

“We don’t want it to be a security problem.”

3.45pm: Nizam asks Awaluddin if he concedes that the police collect intelligence on those who proselytise.

Awaluddin agrees that they do. 

“We do it because of issues of security and complaints from the public.”

Nizam then asks Awaluddin about his saying in his earlier testimony that it would be referred to the religious department. 

“At the special branch we have to stop things before they happen.”

3.10pm: Nizam asks Awaluddin if his office has dealt with the Shia.

Awaluddin says his division’s job is to procure intelligence on Shia.

3.25pm: Nizam ask Awaluddin if a fatwa passed by the National Fatwa Committee is not law but merely a religious opinion. 

Awaluddin replies, “I can’t answer that. It has to be referred to the experts on fatwa.’

Nizam says as far as he knows, the fatwa is law if it is issued by the state and not law if it is a national fatwa.

2.45pm: Nizam asks Awaluddin about a remark made by former IGP Khalid Abu Bakar to take action against the Shia in a specific case in Perak.

Nizam asks Awaluddin if he agrees that the police will act against those who are Shia.

Awaluddin said that he does not agree.

“I can’t give my views. According to the national fatwa, yes.”

1.15pm: Amri family lawyer Nizam Bashir asks Awaluddin what elements of violence with Shia that the police had to refer to the religious department.

Awaluddin says his division doesn’t deal with militants. 

Nizam asks Awaluddin if they still have to refer to the religious departments if public disorder is caused by the religious groups.

Awaluddin says no.

“We still have to refer to our superiors.”

The inquiry takes a break. 

12.50pm: Suhakam officers ask Awaluddin if Amri and Perlis Hope were involved in Shia activity. 

Awaluddin says that reports were made but there was no evidence to take any action. 

Suhakam officers ask about the statement by Amri’s wife, Norhayati, that he knew about Amri’s abduction. 

Awaluddin says that he denies whatever she has said. 

Suhakam officers ask if he had met Norhayati or Shamzaini. 

Awaluddin says that he has not met them. 

12.25pm: Suhakam officers ask Awaluddin if there were any discussions on proselytising with Asri.

Awaluddin said that there was no discussion on proselytising.

Suhakam officers ask Awaluddin if ASP Razman had carried out investigations on the Shia and Amri and sent it to Bukit Aman.

Awaluddin says yes, it’s their duty to do so.

“Investigations were carried out, not on Amri, but on the Shia.”

Suhakam officers ask if he had carried out surveillance on Amri.

Awaluddin says they don’t carry out surveillance.

“We just monitor the case based on intelligence we receive from the public and on social media.

“We then disseminate the information to the religious authorities.”

12.05pm: Suhakam officers ask Awaluddin if he knows Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin.

Awaluddin says that he knows Asri.

Suhakam officers ask Awaluddin if he has met Asri.

Awaluddin says he met Asri in October 7, 2016 at the Perlis Mufti Depatment.

“I went to see him as a courtesy call to discuss safety and extremism in Perlis.”

Suhakam officers ask Awaluddin if Amri and Perlis Hope was discussed in their meeting.

Awaluddin said that they discussed many things, including that Perlis Hope was a Shia front.

“We just had a discussion. We can’t act on religious matters. We can only inform the religious departments.” 

11.45am: Suhakam commissioner Mah Weng Kwai asks Khor if he is any closer to finding out what had happened to Amri.

Khor said he does not have anything. 

Mah then asks Khor whether he knows if Amri is dead or alive. 

He says Khor obviously doesn’t know who took Amri, to which Khor replies no. 

He asks Khor if Amri went missing on his own, since he started investigations into the case.  

Khor says there is a possibility Amri went missing on his own. 

“I can’t straightforwardly say what had happened, if he was abducted or went on his own. It’s still a possibility.”

11.20am: Amri’s family’s lawyer, Muthiah Karupaya, asks Khor if he knows Bukit Aman DCP Azam Azhari from the technical department, who testified at the inquiry.

Khor says that he never knew him the entire time he was attached to the station.

Muthiah asks Khor how many times he has been to Pulapol.

Khor says everyone goes there for training.

Muthiah asks Khor how many times he had informed the family and gave them updates on the investigations.

Khor says three to four times in 2016.

Muthiah asks Khor if he knows what happened to Amri, as he has been investigating the case since 2016.

Khor says he cannot give a theory as investigations are ongoing. 

11.05am: Louis asks what the procedures are if someone goes missing.

Khor says that if a report is lodged, they will first take a statement from the person who made the report. 

He says they will open investigation papers and the info will be disseminated to all police stations throughout the country. 

Louis asks Khor what happens if there are no developments, and what the time frame for a missing person is.

Khor says that if a person is still missing, they will still be in the system, which will be updated if there are developments.

10.50am: Louis asks Khor what happened to the file that was given to Bukit Aman.

Khor says that Rahman returned the file with instructions to get more statements from witnesses.

He adds that the police carried out more investigations.

10.40am: Louis asks Khor about handing over Amri’s investigation file to Bukit Aman. 

Khor says the file was handed over to Bukit Aman’s superintendent Abdul Rahman Atan.

Louis asks Khor why the file was given to Bukit Aman. 

Khor says he was asked to hand over the file. 

9.50am: Amri’s family’s lawyer, Larissa Ann Louis, asks Khor to comfirm his statement that ASP Razman Ramli was his superior and that he moved to Terengganu.

Khor says that Razman left and Inspector Ganesan took over in 2017 as his superior.

Louis then asks the panel for a short break to go through a list of questions the lawyers have prepared for Khor. 

9.30am: Suhakam’s inquiry continues with Perlis Inspector Khor Yi Shuen taking the stand.

Suhakam officers ask Khor if he went to the home of the owner of the gold Vios, Saiful Bahari, to check if he was there.

Khor says that he went to the apartment, but no one was there.

Suhakam commissioner Mah Weng Kwai asks Khor if he could go and look for Saiful.

Khor says that he will look for him. – July 3, 2018.