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THE widow of social activist Amri Che Mat who went missing in November 2016, Norhayati Mohd Ariffin, has filed a submission with the High Court opposing the government’s attempt to suspend enforcement of a November 2025 judgment holding the police liable for negligence in his disappearance.
The government had applied on 8 January to stay the order pending its appeal at the Court of Appeal. The matter is scheduled for hearing at the Kuala Lumpur High Court (NCVC3) on Wednesday, 11 March, at 2pm.
In a statement, Surendra Ananth, a member of Norhayati’s legal team, said she had offered a conditional stay to allow the government to defer payment of damages while investigations and liability matters continued.
“The government rejected this proposal in full, without giving any explanation,” Malay Mail cited him adding.
Norhayati’s team argued that granting the stay could further delay the resumption of investigations into Amri’s disappearance.
According to the High Court judgment, investigations by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) effectively ceased in June 2019, following the establishment of a Special Task Force (STF) by the Home Ministry.
The STF was set up after a Suhakam inquiry panel report found the PDRM’s Special Branch responsible for Amri’s disappearance and that of Pastor Raymond Koh in 2017.
The STF concluded that PDRM had been negligent and failed to treat Amri’s case as an abduction, despite evidence suggesting otherwise.
Even after the Attorney General’s Chambers ordered the case to be reclassified as an abduction in April 2019, the police continued to treat it as a missing person case.
The STF also determined that rogue PDRM officers were likely involved, either acting alone or in collusion with unidentified individuals from religious groups.
In November 2025, the High Court held PDRM and several officers liable for negligence, misfeasance in public office, and breach of statutory duty.
Judge Datuk Su Tiang Joo found that the police had a statutory duty under Section 20 of the Police Act 1967 to investigate crimes properly and that systemic failures in the force violated Norhayati’s constitutional right to life under Article 5(1).
The court awarded her RM14,254 in special damages, RM2 million in general and aggravated damages, RM1 million in exemplary damages, and five per cent annual interest on all damages from the judgment date, as well as RM250,000 in costs.
The court further instructed the Inspector-General of Police to remove three officers from investigations into Amri’s disappearance and directed PDRM to resume investigations based on STF findings, with progress to be reported to the Attorney General’s Chambers every two months.
Norhayati’s legal team has emphasised that no action has been taken to implement the High Court order.
“The order aligns with PDRM’s pre-existing duties under the Police Act. Delaying it risks further obstructing efforts to determine Amri’s fate,” Surendra said.
On 30 January 2026, Norhayati’s lawyers sent a letter to the Attorney General requesting updates on the investigation and the identities of officers assigned to the case but have received no response.
Larissa Ann Louis, partner at ALSSCO, confirmed the lack of reply. She added that regardless of the government’s appeal, continued inaction by PDRM reinforces previous findings by Suhakam, the STF, and the High Court that the investigation has been seriously flawed.
“Proper and thorough investigation of crimes is a core statutory duty of PDRM and does not require court compulsion,” she said.
The High Court will hear the government’s application to stay the judgment, with the case to be presided over by YA Datin Zalita Zaidan at the New Civil Courts Complex 3. - March 9, 2026