The Suhakam public inquiry into the disappearance of several activists resumed this morning after its announcement last week that it was suspending its investigation into missing pastor Raymond Koh.

The hearing that started about 11.30am today focuses on Amri Che Mat, the founder of the non-profit organisation Perlis Hope, who went missing after being allegedly abducted on Nov 26, 2016.

Amri's wife Norhayati Ariffin appeared as the first witness today and another witness is scheduled to testify later today.

The hearing is presided by Suhakam commissioner Mah Weng Kwai and sitting with him are commissioners Aishah Bidin and Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Saleh.

Suhakam is investigating whether Amri’s disappereance amounts to 'enforced or involuntary disappearance' as defined by the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED).

This is defined as the arrest, detention, abduction or any other form of deprivation of liberty by agents of the state or by persons, or groups of persons, acting with the authorisation, support or acquiescence of the state.

The instrument was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2006. Malaysia is not a signatory to the ICPPED.

Suhakam was also investigating the disappearance of Koh and Pastor Joshua Hilmy and his wife Ruth Sitepu under the same terms of reference from Oct 19 last year.

However, in midst of hearing witnesses’ testimonies on Koh’s disappearance, police charged former Uber driver Lam Chang Nam, 31, on Jan 16 with abducting Koh.

This forced Suhakam to suspend its investigation into Koh’s disappearance and call a new set of witnesses to testify on Amri’s disappearance, beginning today.

This is due Section 12(2) of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999 which prohibits Suhakam from investigating an allegation that is a part of court proceedings or which has already been decided by a court of law.

Koh’s family expressed shock over the new charge against Lam and questioned whether it was a bid to disrupt the Suhakam inquiry.

Advocacy group Citizens Against Enforced Disappearances (Caged) had likewise questioned whether Lam was merely a scapegoat, noting that a police officer had previously testified to Suhakam that Lam had nothing to do with Koh’s disappearance.

Lam was, in March last year, charged with attempting to extort RM30,000 from Koh’s family by claiming that he could secure the pastor’s release