100 days later, abducted pastor's family still in the dark
A hundred days have passed since pastor Raymond Koh was abducted in broad daylight, but his family continues to remain in the dark as to his whereabouts.
Koh's wife Susanna Liew said that one possibility she cannot rule out is that the state is linked to her husband's abduction.
"I do not have evidence that absolutely proves this. I still do not know who abducted Raymond.
"But can I rule out the possibility that people in power are linked to this, or know more than they are admitting? No, I cannot rule that out," Liew said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this morning...
A hundred days have passed since pastor Raymond Koh was abducted in broad daylight, but his family continues to remain in the dark as to his whereabouts.
Koh's wife Susanna Liew said that one possibility she cannot rule out is that the state is linked to her husband's abduction.
"I do not have evidence that absolutely proves this. I still do not know who abducted Raymond.
"But can I rule out the possibility that people in power are linked to this, or know more than they are admitting? No, I cannot rule that out," Liew said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this morning.
She said the behaviour of the authorities in the last 100 days indicated the possibility that her husband's kidnapping is a case of "enforced disappearance".
The United Nations defines enforced disappearances as "persons are arrested, detained or abducted against their will or otherwise deprived of their liberty by officials of different branches or levels of government, or by organised groups or private individuals acting on behalf of, or with the support, direct or indirect, consent or acquiescence of the government, followed by a refusal to disclose the fate or whereabouts of the persons concerned or a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of their liberty, which places such persons outside the protection of the law".
Liew said many people have expressed concern, in public and in private, that Koh's abduction might be a case of enforced disappearance.
She also pointed out that her husband was abducted in broad daylight, the incident was captured by security cameras nearby and the witness lodged a police report immediately.
"I owe this to my husband, even if I have to ask difficult questions and even if I risk the wrath of powerful men who may hit back at us, instead of answering my questions," she said.
Liew said that all she and her children want most is for Koh to be released safe and sound and for his abductors and their accomplices to be brought to justice.
She also said she would not entertain any questions about the claim that Koh proselytised Muslims, as she believes it is just a distraction to divert attention from the abduction.
'What about law and order?'
"This feeds into the story told by those trying to excuse this abduction, that Raymond deserved this because he tried to convert Muslims.
"This kind of violent abduction is a capital crime in Malaysia. Can there be any justification for this? What about law and order?
"What Raymond did or did not do is not relevant. Who committed this crime and who helped these criminals is what we all should be asking," Liew said.
In 2011, Koh's 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.
However, the pastor was never charged with any related offence against Muslims.
On Feb 13, Koh was driving in Petaling Jaya when three black SUVs boxed in his vehicle.
Eight masked men dressed in black then alighted and within one minute, Koh and his car were removed from the scene.
The incident was caught on CCTV.
The family has brought the matter to the UN working group on enforced or involuntary disappearances (WGEID).
The last time the family met with the police on Koh's abduction was on March 23, but one of his daughters, Esther, said she has been calling the police for updates about once a week since then.
"But whenever I ask for updates, they (the police) just say 'Tiada perkembangan' (No new developments)," Esther said at the press conference today.
She last contacted the police last Thursday, she added.
When a reporter asked the family, incessantly, whether they knew or suspected why Koh was abducted, his other daughter, Elizabeth, shot back at the reporter.
"Do you know Raymond Koh? Have you heard of him? He is known as a good man, a man who helped the poor, who raised my sister and I," Elizabeth said, choking up with emotion.
"If you have a father that was taken away from you, you won't be asking these questions," she added.


Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.