Govt, police ordered to pay over RM3 million in Amri Che Mat’s disappearance, here’s what you need to know
Witnesses later claimed to have seen several four-wheel drive vehicles surrounding Amri’s vehicle on the night of his disappearance.
SHAH ALAM – Nearly nine years after the disappearance of welfare activist Amri Che Mat, the Kuala Lumpur High Court delivered a long-awaited decision, ordering the government and police to pay over RM3 million in damages to his wife, Noorhayati Mohd Ariffin.
Here’s a breakdown of what happened and why this case matters:
The night Amri disappeared
On Nov 24, 2016, Amri, co-founder of the Perlis Hope Welfare Association left his home in Kangar around 10.30pm, driving a silver Toyota Fortuner.
His wife, Noorhayati, was the last person to see him.
The next morning, the vehicle was found abandoned at a construction site in Bukit Chabang, about 25 kilometres away. The car windows were shattered, but Amri was nowhere to be found.
Witnesses later claimed to have seen several four-wheel drive vehicles surrounding Amri’s vehicle on the night of his disappearance. The identities of those involved remained unknown.
From a missing person to allegations of abduction
Initially, police classified the case as a missing person report, citing lack of evidence pointing to foul play.
However, in 2017, a Special Branch officer allegedly told Noorhayati that her husband had been under surveillance for links to Syiah teachings, an accusation the family strongly denied.
Since then, Amri’s family has faced immensed pressure and continued to demand transparency and answers from the authorities.
Suhakam’s findings: State agents involved
In April 2019, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) concluded, following a public inquiry, that Amri and Christian pastor Raymond Koh were victims of enforced disappearance.
In the findings, it stated that the operations leading to their abductions were carried out by individuals acting on behalf of government agencies, specifically the Bukit Aman Special Branch.
“The panel finds that Amri’s disappearance was an enforced disappearance carried out by state agents. The evidence also indicates that Pastor Koh was abducted by the Bukit Aman Special Branch,” it said.
Legal push for accountability
On May 9, 2023, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ordered the government to disclose parts of the Special Task Force report related to Amri’s case.
On Nov 5, 2025, the same court held both the government and police liable for Amri’s disappearance, awarding general and aggravated damages of RM2 million, exemplary damages of RM1 million and special damages of RM14,457.52, along with legal costs of RM250,000.
Judge Datuk Su Tiang Joo also ordered the police to reopen investigations into the disappearance and report progress to the Attorney-General every two months.
Why this matters
The decision marked a rare moment of judicial accountability in cases involving alleged state-linked disappearances.
It brings long-awaited recognition for Noorhayati, who has fought tirelessly for nearly a decade for justice and truth.
While Amri’s whereabouts remained unknown, the ruling sent a message about transparency, responsibility and human rights protection.
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