Most Read
Most Commented
Read more like this
mk-logo
From Our Readers
‘The abduction of Pastor Raymond Koh is an act of sheer terror’

All over Malaysia, Singapore and several other world destinations and capitals, Christians gathered offering prayers for a Malaysian pastor who was abducted in broad daylight on Feb 13.

And like others, I was at one such gathering.

Pastor Raymond Koh is reported to have been abducted by a group of masked men on Jalan SS4B/10, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia, less than 100m from a police housing complex.

According to eyewitnesses, those behind the abduction were highly-motivated, trained, they wore ski masks, there was an air of competence and confidence, you see in the likes of those highly-trained and skilled in such activities.

The episode was even recorded by one of the kidnappers, while another directed traffic.

The case is being investigated under Section 365 of the Penal Code for kidnapping or abducting with intent to secretly and wrongfully confine a person.

Inexplicably, we hear nothing more, as Malaysians and the rest of the world get an overdose of the North Korean dictator’s half-brother Kim Jong-nam assassination and events thereafter, which includes a highly-dramatised version of a sweep of KL International Airport 2 (KLIA2).

This is not all.

I am deeply saddened that this North Korean affair seems mismanaged by Wisma Putra.

North Korea is a rogue state.

We are not.

Since when do real professional diplomats turn challenges in international affairs into a mudslinging affair with terms like “insulting”, “delusional”, “half-truth” and other superlatives, like the same politicians treat Malaysian opposition politicians?

As diplomats, do we not have an higher calling and the need to always carry ourselves with dignity and decorum as the office demands?

Apart from that, the minister has to be wary that he is dealing with a rogue state, so he should be also be careful for his own safety.

Sadly, the conversation among all and sundry is, while the nation gets an overdose of the North Korean affair, we hear absolutely nothing on the Pastor Raymond kidnapping front.

It is also inexplicable why till today, and I stand corrected if wrong, I see not a single leader of our ruling government speaking out against this kidnapping.

And why is that?

What we have seen on Feb 13, 2017, is an act of extreme terrorism on a soft target.

Three elements of a heinous crime

As I analyse this heinous crime, I see three elements here - 1. Violence, 2. Fear, and 3. Intimidation - and at each element the ‘terrorists’ who carried out the daylight kidnapping of Feb 13 has met its objectives, to inculcate fear and intimidate peace loving and law-abiding Malaysians.

The kidnapping of the pastor has already gone viral and world leaders and diplomats are anxiously watching its developments therein, as it will certify whether we are after all, a moderate country and followers of a Federal Constitution which paved the way for a peaceful transition and independence from our colonial masters in 1957, or slipping into anarchy engineered by a rogue group, certainly with a political and religious agenda, out to wreck whatever our founding fathers achieved?

This is why I am appealing to dear friends, the no-nonsense tolerating home affairs minister and deputy prime minister, the competent and passionate inspector-general of police and his team, who are truly professionals to address and allay the fear and anxiety that has gripped minorities and especially Malaysian Christians, following this violent act of terror, exerted by a team of highly-skilled, competent, committed, dedicated, passionate, highly-motivated and financed team of actors.

I pray this is not the alpha of a secular nation with laws, and with a proud history of governance entering a period of summary judgments, death squads, kidnappings and terror by a clandestine group of actors/terrorists?

May the Almighty help us as we cry out in helplessness to Him.


DR JACOB GEORGE is president, Consumers Association of Subang & Shah Alam, Selangor (Cassa).

ADS