COMMENT The authorities owe the public an explanation why the abductors of Pastor Raymond Koh continue to elude them. Their continued silence would only embolden the abductors and or other criminal fringe elements.

Already in the absence of information,rumours over Koh’s disappearance have gone viral and this in turn may hamper investigations and heighten religious tensions.

The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) rightly points out in a statement released yesterday that religious leaders must be free from threats of violence and intimidation.

Koh, 62, is well known in Christian circles as a humble man of faith who acts out of his conscience and calling to render help to the poor, the marginalised and those living with HIV/Aids regardless of race or creed.

“We ask the authorities to conduct a quick and thorough investigation of this incident and bring to justice its perpetrators,” CFM said.

This immediately raises the question whether Koh’s abduction has a religious angle to it. If so then this becomes more than just a police case. The religious authorities parked under the Prime Minister’s Office and those under state authorities must assist the police.

In the wake of Koh’s abduction, both mainstream and social media have been awash in speculative reports. For instance, The Star as well as The Malay Mail Online claimed Koh courted controversy in 2011 after his NGO was accused by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) of allegedly proselytising Muslims following a raid on a thanksgiving and fund-raising dinner at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church.

Both reports failed to mention that Jais raided the church premises without search warrants and eventually Jais had to drop their suspicions against Koh or his NGO as they could not find any evidence.

Now that Jais has apparently been linked to Koh’s disappearance by both the mainstream and social media, rightly or otherwise, the onus is on the Selangor Islamic authorities to clarify the allegations. So too must other federal religious authorities. This is more so in the light of assurances by both PAS and Umno that the shariah/hudud bill before Parliament would not affect non-Muslims.

Two high crimes committed on Feb 13

Two high crimes were committed on the same day and about the same time. Yet police were quick to resolve one but remained apparently clueless on the other.

Last Monday (Feb 13), Kim Jong-nam, 46, the estranged elder half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, travelling under another name, was assassinated at the KL International Airport low cost terminal as he was about to board his 10.50am flight to Macau.

Within hours, the first of the two women suspects was arrested based on CCTV images at the airport. The identity of the dead man was officially confirmed the following day by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also home minister, as well as by inspector-general of police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar.

One hour’s drive away in Petaling Jaya, on the same day and about the same time, Pastor Raymond Koh was abducted about the same time with images of the crime captured on video. He has not been found since nor has either the IGP not the deputy PM said anything.

Police would only confirm Koh has been abducted and there was a CCTV recording of the crime. In the midst of this stonewalling by the authorities, Koh’s wife Susana, issued a public statement on Saturday giving her account of the abduction issued through her lawyers:

“On Monday, Feb 13, 2017, my husband, Pastor Raymond Koh Keng Joo, 62, was abducted in Jalan SS4b/10, Petaling Jaya less than 100 metres from the Kompleks Perumahan Polis.

“This was confirmed on Feb 14, 2017 by Selangor CID chief senior assistant commissioner Fadzil Ahmat.

“He was abducted in Jalan SS4b/10, Kelana Jaya, by at least five masked men while en route to our friend’s home. The abduction took place between 10.31:42 and 10.32:39am according to CCTV footage, currently with the police.

“I believe that the people who took my husband from me are no ordinary abductors because they were masked, the abduction was professionally and deftly executed, taking less than 60 seconds

“The abductors had money, or were backed by money, or by an organisation with money as the cars they used were expensive SUVs, at least one of which was a black Toyota Alphard

“Someone in the group calmly filmed the entire abduction while other masked members of the group re-directed the traffic.According to witnesses, at least five masked men were involved. According to CCTV footage, at least three black SUVs stopped in the middle of the road.

“The fact that after almost a week there is only silence suggests that the abductors’ motive is not monetary gain.

“I would also like offer a reward amounting to a maximum of RM10,000 for information leading to rescue of my dear husband.”

Unresolved questions - how did police get hold of the CCTV recording? What are they doing with it?

If they have enough policing resources and expertise to find the Korean’s alleged assassins, why can’t they find Pastor Raymond Koh of his abductors? The authorities must explain themselves, the sooner the better.

BOB TEOH is a freelance columnist and formerly secretary-general of the Confederation of Asean Journalists (1985-87).

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.