Protect police informer, Amri’s wife urges ministry

KUALA LUMPUR: The wife of missing activist Amri Che Mat has urged the Home Ministry to protect the police officer who informed her about those responsible for her husband’s abduction.

Norhayati Mohd Ariffin said she met an aide of Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday to inform him about her concerns.

She also expressed hope that Sgt Shamzaini Mohd Daud would speak the truth when called in to testify at a Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) inquiry, which is looking into the abduction of her husband and three other individuals.

“I hope he will be given protection so that he won’t be under pressure if he is called in to speak at the inquiry,” she told reporters after testifying at an inquiry session yesterday.

Shamzaini allegedly told Norhayati that Special Branch officers from Bukit Aman were responsible for the kidnapping of her husband on Nov 24, 2016, as well as that of Pastor Raymond Koh on Feb 13, 2017.

She added that Shamzaini, who is with the Perlis Special Branch, only met her once at her house on May 12, three days after Pakatan Harapan won the 14th General Election.

Shamzaini supposedly told Norhayati that he did not want to be complicit in Amri’s abduction and that he came forward because there was a new government in charge.

“He told me to tell my lawyers everything he said,” Norhayati added.

She also hoped that both Amri and Koh would be released soon, and that if they did anything wrong they should be charged in court.

Susanna Liew, Koh’s wife, also expressed her concern about the whistleblower’s safety and urged Muhyiddin to expedite the case and investigate the serious allegations.

“Since Dr Mahathir said he wants to run the country according to the rule of law, I hope it will be carried out,” Liew said.

Amri had left his home in Kangar at about 11.30pm on Nov 24, 2016, in his SUV.

His car was found at the construction site of the Bukit Cabang Sports School in the wee hours of the next morning.

Norhayati and Amri were married in 1997 and have four girls aged between 11 and 19.

The inquiry is being held under Section 12(1) of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act in connection with the disappearances of Koh, Amri, Pastor Joshua Hilmi and his wife Ruth Sitepu.

The panel of inquiry consists of commissioners Datuk Mah Weng Kwai as chairman, Prof Datuk Dr Aishah Bidin and Dr Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Saleh.