Quigonbond: We knew this day was coming. The government may not be responsible for Pastor Raymond Koh’s abduction.
But knowing how trigger happy they can be with the sedition law and other criminal laws, and knowing how little they cared when their sycophants are spewing religious and racially-charged poison into Malaysian atmosphere over the last four years, and most recently for again using the Chinese bogeyman to scare rural Malays, they are morally culpable for bringing about this state of affairs, just like they are morally culpable for certain interviewees falling off MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) buildings, a certain murder victim being blown up, the many deaths in police custody, litigant’s and police's defiance of civil court order, and for a public prosecutor being murdered.
It's a culture of lawlessness brought about by a government of few that is above the law. It can only get worse if we stick to the current course.
JayWai: We should step up and have more open discussion on Pastor Koh’s abduction to add pressure on the authorities and the governing bodies. We cannot allow the country to sink to lower levels of lawlessness and thuggery.
The abduction was swift, bold and with precision. And as Amanah leader Mujahid Yusof Rawa mentioned, if there is indeed evidence against Pastor Koh, then go ahead and charge him.
Hplooi: It would be a dereliction of duty for any politician with conscience not to speak up and/or to be seen at the peaceful vigil in the face of allegedly official stonewalling and a severe rationing of information with regard to Pastor Koh's case.
What is even more significant (in case people do not remember) is the disappearance of Pastor Joshua Hilmy (apparently in November 2016). Are the cases of Joshua and Koh linked?
Worldly Wise: Gerakan's Andy Yong should be expelled from Gerakan for saying such a preposterous thing if our government is sincere in finding the abductors.
The government is in an awkward situation. Everybody can remember that the IGP (inspector-general of police) refused to arrest an abductor in the Indira Gandhi case although the High Court judge ordered him to do so.
MCA, Gerakan, MIC, and junior partner PPP - all parties in the coalition representing or purporting to represent non-Muslims - ought to withdraw from BN.
650214: I think the police need to act faster on this case. But I disagree with Gerakan speculating on the culprit (that linked the pastor’s case to someone in the government). The family is already in a dilemma over this.
Odin Tajué: No charges were ever preferred against Pastor Koh for the utterly simple reason that Hasan Ali, who led the Jais (Selangor Islamic Religious Department) team of some 20 to 30 that raided the church on the night of Aug 3, 2011, had fabricated his so-called evidence.
And that evidence could stand up to no scrutiny whatsoever. He also cooked up all sorts of stories to put Christians in a bad light.
Two of his many false claims was that when he was Selangor executive councillor, he received at least 60 reports of apostasy, that Muslims were enticed with money and given gifts of laptops, cameras, cars, monthly food provisions and devices such as solar-powered bibles.
One asks, why then has none of those supposed apostates been named and charged by Jais?
At his house in the afternoon of April 2, 2012, Hasan showed a 42-minute long video to journalists. The video purported to show a couple who had been duped into embracing Christianity, had repented, and returned to Islam.
The man, supposed to be the husband, had been coached to say that those Christians, some of whom were Caucasians, wore skullcaps and the jubah, and went to mosques in an attempt to get close to Muslims.
That was how they slowly infiltrated the Muslim community. When they first approached Muslims, they did not use the Bible but the Quran. He said many other things besides those.
The confession and revelation were obviously staged. The names of the supposed couple were never revealed, and their faces were not shown. Among the many who have pointed out the incredulity of the video was the Islamic Renaissance Front.
Hasan produced another video also designed to incriminate Christians soon after that first one. The screening of the second one, if there was any, did not even make the news. This is just one example of how some Muslims in Malaysia have cooked up stories in the hope to incriminate Christians.
And they all have been hopelessly incompetent storytellers. Until today, not one single Christian has been charged for proselytising to Muslims. And no wonder.
Sleepy: Until proven wrong, the conclusion/rumours looks logical to me because the abduction was conducted in broad daylight and carried out with military precision, there was no ransom demand, the abductee was a pastor and not the first, and there is CCTV evidence.
Worldly Wise: Usually pastors have little wealth. They live on support from church groups. Since he is a 'pastor' intent on spreading the word, the first line of investigation should be on possible Islamic groups.
The public is worried. Candlelight vigils could have been on the assumption that the captors will be moved by it.
Anonymous 637541435986091: I am not an investigator but common sense tells me that it:
1) Cannot be personal (not with the way the abduction was carried out).
2) Not vengeful as they can just shoot or stab him.
3) Has to be done by a group since it was well-orchestrated.
4) Cannot be for ransom as the pastor is not Jho Low.
The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.
These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.
*************************************************************************************
Police have arrested a 32-year-old man in connection with the abduction of pastor Raymond Koh, who has been missing since Feb 13.
Selangor police chief Abdul Samah Mat said the suspect was detained in Ampang at 3.30am this morning.
"The suspect had contacted the victim's family member a day before, asking for a sum of money for the release of the pastor," Abdul Samah said in a media statement.
According to Oriental Daily, the man had sought RM30,000 from the family.
Abdul Samah said the suspect has been remanded for four days to facilitate investigations.
"The case is being investigated under Section 365 of the Penal Code for intent to kidnap or abduct and Section 385 of the Penal Code for extortion," he said.
He said police are still investigating the case and appealed to the public to come forward with information.
Abdul Samah also asked members of the public not to speculate on the matter.
Koh was abducted by several masked man in black SUVs after blocking his car in Petaling Jaya.
Following this, there were speculations that the case could be related to religion.
In 2011, the 62-year-old pastor was embroiled in a controversy after his NGO, Harapan Komuniti, was accused by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) of proselytising Muslims, following a raid at a thanksgiving and fundraising dinner at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church.
**********************************************************************************************
Missing pastor’s wife offers RM10,000 reward
KUCHING: The family of pastor Raymond Koh Keng Joo, who was recently abducted in Petaling Jaya, Selangor is offering a reward of up to RM10,000 for any information on his whereabouts.
“I would like to appeal to those who have taken my husband to return him safe and unharmed to me and my children. I would also like to appeal to any eyewitnesses to come forward.
“I would also like to offer a reward amounting to a maximum of RM10,000 for information leading to the rescue of my dear husband,” said Koh’s wife Susanna Liew Sow Yoke in a recent statement following the abduction of Koh on Feb 13.
The wife and family appealed to individuals who hold information about Koh’s whereabouts to contact Koh’s son Jonathan at 011-3973 2670 via WhatsApp.
The statement began with a brief introduction on Liew and the background on the abduction as follows:
“My name is Susanna Liew Sow Yoke. I am 61 years old and a housewife.
“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 SAC Fadzil Ahmat.
“On the morning of Feb 13, 2017, my husband left our Prima Sixteen Chapter Two home in Jalan 16/18, Section 16, Petaling at around 10am to go to the Puncak Damansara Condominium in Kampung Sg Kayu Ara, Petaling Jaya.”
According to the police report filed by Jonathan Koh Szu Hao, 32, Liew said her husband left home at approximately 10am.
She said Koh then drove to Puncak Damansara where she last saw him just after 10am.
“He was on his way to a mutual friend’s house in Kelana Jaya to deliver some belachan. My husband never arrived at his destination.
“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 10:32:39 am according to CCTV footage, currently with the police.
“My children and I are shocked, saddened and traumatised by the events of the past week. Today, it is almost a week since Raymond was abducted and we have heard nothing.
“I believe that the people who took my husband from me are no ordinary abductors because of the following reasons:
• 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
• The abduction was planned, timed and executed at an opportune moment, which suggests that they were waiting for my husband who drives an old Silver Honda Accord bearing the number plate ST 5515 D.”
• 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
• The abduction was planned, timed and executed at an opportune moment, which suggests that they were waiting for my husband who drives an old Silver Honda Accord bearing the number plate ST 5515 D.”
Liew said someone in the group calmly filmed the entire abduction while other masked members of the group redirected traffic.
According to witnesses, at least five masked men were involved, she added.
“According to CCTV footage, at least three black SUVs stopped in the middle of the road.
“I did not learn about my husband’s abduction until about 8pm when a mutual friend called to ask why my husband had not appeared for a 4pm meeting. I suspected something was wrong when he did not return home for dinner.”
She pointed out the fact that after almost a week there was only silence suggested that the abductors’ motive was not monetary gain.
Since the abduction occurred in a residential area and in broad daylight, she said: “My family and I are prepared to offer a reward to anyone who can help shed light on this distressing incident.”
She added: “My husband has been involved in Harapan Komuniti, a community work project which he set up more than 10 years ago and which involves giving free tuition classes to children and English lessons to adults.”
Last week, a national English daily reported that the police had interviewed Koh’s family.
Investigating officer Insp Ali Asrar was quoted as saying: “We are looking at his personal history and background to see whether he might have received any threat.”
It has been reported that no ransom demand had been made, to date.
*******************************************************
*******************************************************
Reward for missing pastor’s recovery increased to RM100,000
KUCHING: The reward for information leading to the safe return of missing pastor Raymond Koh Keng Joo has been raised to RM100,000 from the initial offer of RM10,000.
In a statement, Koh’s family said it hoped that the increase would help in efforts to finding Koh and returning him to them safely.
“Our family is grateful and touched that concerned well-wishers have stepped up to increase the reward money offered,” said Susanna Liew, the pastor’s wife.
Pastor Koh was abducted on Feb 13 between 10.30 and 10.45 am while he was driving a silver-coloured 1990 model Honda Accord (ST 5515 D) along Jalan SS4B/10, Petaling Jaya, Selangor – about 300-400 metres after the Caltex petrol station from the turn-off from the LDP Expressway.
The reward of up to a maximum of RM100,000 will be awarded for information leading to his safe recovery and there are no restrictions to the eligibility of the reward recipients.
A panel will decide how the full reward will be divided according to the accuracy and usefulness of information provided. The identity of informers will be kept private, if requested.
A dedicated number has been set-up for those who wish to provide information at 011-3973 2670 (Jon).
To date, police investigations have not yielded any significant leads as to the identity of the abductors or their criminal accomplices, the SUVs used in the abduction or the location of the missing pastor and the whereabouts of the car he was driving.
“This phone number is to be used specifically for the purpose of receiving credible leads for the investigation,” explained Susanna Liew.
“While we are gratified by the outflow of prayers and good wishes being sent to us, we hope that the public will respect the need to keep this phone number free for investigation purposes only.”
*******************************************************
I AM SHOWING THIS VIDEO AGAIN SO THAT PDRM CAN ACTUALLY USE THEIR COMMON SENSE AND BRAIN NOT TO HIDE OR COVER THE TRUTH.
FIRST - PASTOR'S WIFE OFFERED RM100,000 REWARD. BUT THE SO CALLED SUSPECT ONLY ASKING FOR RM30,000 RANSOM. THE SUSPECT MUST BE CLUELESS AND AN IDIOT.
SECOND - THE VIDEO CLEARLY SHOWS THE KIDNAPPERS ARE A WELL ORGANISED GROUP. ONE CLUELESS AND AN IDIOT SUSPECT CANNOT DO THIS. I CAN BET PDRM WILL COME OUT WITH ANOTHER STUPID EXCUSE. I CAN ALSO EXPECT THE SO CALLED SUSPECT TO BE A NON MUSLIM NON MALAY AND JUST OUT FROM PRISON.
THIRD - DO YOU NOTICE JAIS, IGP'S BROTHER, JAMBAN, NOR OMAR AND EVEN ROYAL HOUSEHOLD ARE KEEPING MUM.
FOURTH - THE BODY WILL BE FOUND AFTER EVIDENCES HAVE BEEN CLEAN. THAT IS IF PDRM FORGET THAT A PROFESSIONAL RELIABLE FORENSIC EXPECT CAN STILL DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF DEATH. I BELIEVE AFTER READING THIS BLOG, PDRM WILL WRITE ANOTHER STRIPTISE.
MALAYSIA PDRM HAVE GONE DOWN THE DRAIN WHEN THE HIGH RANKING OFFICERS ARE MORE POLITICAL, RACIST AND ARE MORE MATERIALISTIC.