KUALA LUMPUR – Amnesty International Malaysia has called for full accountability following a landmark ruling by the Malaysian High Court, which held the government and police responsible for the enforced disappearances of Pastor Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat. The court’s decision marks the first judicial recognition of enforced disappearances carried out by Malaysian authorities.
Nicole Fong, Amnesty International Malaysia’s Research and Advocacy Officer, welcomed the ruling but stressed that it must serve as the start of meaningful accountability.
“This welcome landmark ruling is the first judicial recognition of enforced disappearance at the hands of the Malaysian authorities. The government must now ensure this decision marks the beginning of real accountability, not another cycle of delay and denial through drawn-out appeals,” she said.
Fong further highlighted the gravity of the issue, pointing out that enforced disappearance is considered one of the most severe crimes under international law.
“Despite credible evidence of state involvement—including Suhakam’s 2019 findings that the Special Branch of the police was responsible for the disappearances—the government has made no meaningful effort to investigate or hold those responsible to account,” Fong stated.
She also called on the government to take action.
“The government must stop running from the truth and ensure full accountability for the enforced disappearances of both Amri Che Mat and Pastor Koh. Where there is sufficient evidence, the government must prosecute all those suspected of criminal responsibility in fair trials,” she emphasised.
“The families of Amri Che Mat and Pastor Raymond Koh have a right to know the truth about what happened to their loved ones. It is now urgent that the government fully investigate and publicly acknowledge the facts about their disappearances to ensure such crimes are never repeated,” Fong added.
On November 5, the High Court ruled that the government and police were responsible for the enforced disappearances of Pastor Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat, citing involvement by the Special Branch of the police.
Amri Che Mat was abducted in 2016, while Pastor Raymond Koh was abducted in 2017.
The court awarded Raymond Koh’s family over RM 37 million (USD 8,845,331) and Amri Che Mat’s family RM 3.6 million (USD 860,626) in damages, and ordered the police to reopen investigations, with regular progress reports to the Attorney General’s Chambers. Despite the ruling, the government has announced plans to appeal the decision in both cases. – November 7, 2025