Gov't to study release of report on Amri Che Mat's disappearance

 

The government will study the Special Task Force’s classified report on the disappearance of social activist Amri Che Mat to see what steps can be taken regarding the court-ordered release of the information.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said he would bring this matter to a ‘higher level’ to review the steps the government could take in releasing the report.

"Amri has gone missing for a long time (since 2016), not during (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim’s time (as prime minister). But the court issued an order to release the report after Anwar became prime minister.

"Since the Attorney-General has filed an appeal and the court then granted a stay (of its order), I will definitely look into this matter,” he said.

He told this to reporters after an information session on the proposed construction of a Design and Technology workshop for Sekolah Kebangsaan Jabi in Pokok Sena today.

Saifuddin, the federal government’s Kedah State Development Committee chairman, was commenting on a news portal report today about an activist questioning the alleged reluctance of the government to release the report.

On May 9, High Court judge Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh ordered the report be disclosed to Amri’s wife, Norhayati Mohd Ariffin, within 30 days but on June 7, the government successfully applied for a stay on the release.

Saifuddin said the committee investigating Amri’s disappearance was set up by the Pakatan Harapan government under then-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

As such, he dismissed allegations that the current government was being sensitive about disclosing the classified report.

On another matter, Saifuddin denied that political vengeance was behind the police investigation against Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor regarding his statement that Penang belongs to Kedah.

He said Sanusi was being investigated because his statement had caused unease among the people.

- Bernama