‘DR ASRI WAS THERE, HE & SHAHIDAN WERE JEALOUS OF MY HUSBAND, THEY ARE TO BLAME FOR HIS DISAPPEARANCE’ – WIFE OF MISSING ACTIVIST AMRI DROPS BOMBSHELL

THE wife of missing Perlis activist Amri Che Mat said she suspects that state religious authorities, Perlis mufti Mohamad Asri Zainul Abidin and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Shahidan Kassim are responsible for her husband’s disappearance.

Norhayati Ariffin told the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) inquiry into Amri’s disappearance that the Perlis Mufti’s Department and Shahidan had condemned her husband’s charitable organisation, Perlis Hope.

“The department had condemned Perlis Hope activities of helping the poor. Shahidan had also condemned Perlis Hope on Facebook,” said Norhayati, who was the first person to testify at today’s hearing.

“Perlis mufti Asri had also warned the people to be wary about Perlis Hope activities which (he said was) connected to violence.”

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

Norhayati said that in 2015, about 20 officers from JAIPS and police came in 10 cars to raid their home.

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

“The police started shouting at my youngest child, who was outside the home, ‘where is your old man’.

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

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

Asri then asked Norhayati and Amri to present themselves at the department’s office the next day, which they did.

When asked why she thought Shahidan and the religious officers would be wary of her husband’s organisation, Norhayati said she believed that they were jealous of the attention that the charity was getting for the work it did for the poor.

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

“Maybe it will look like, to the people, Perlis Hope is doing all the activities and they (politicians and religious authorities) aren’t doing much to help the poor.”

A banner by activist group CAGED showing the four people who have disappeared under mysterious circumstance, (from left) social activist Amri Che Mat, Pastor Raymond Koh, and Pastor Joshua Hilmi and wife, Ruth. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, October 10, 2017.

Shahidan is chairman of the Perlis Umno liaison body and a member of the Umno Supreme Council.

Norhayati said Perlis Hope’s activities were focused on relieving the hardship of the poor, adding that the group was neither political nor religious.

“We help put everyone from all races – Malay, Chinese and Indian.

“We fund our work through contributions from well wishers,” she said.

“We are just helping the poor.”

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

It is chaired by 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.

– https://www.themalaysianinsight.com