Thirty-five days have passed since the abduction of pastor Raymond Koh, but his whereabouts remain unknown.

At a candlelight vigil in Kelana Jaya last night, his wife Susana Liew mentioned how her husband was abducted in a bold and expert manner, suggesting that those involved were professionals.

“We have never seen this kind of criminal violence against a man of faith known for his charity work,” she said.

On the same note, she advised against feeling hate despite being in the dark as to whether her husband is still alive.

“And yet… despite these challenges and frustrations, let us not succumb to despair and hate. If that happens, how different are we from those evil abductors who kidnapped my husband?” she added.

Thanking the hundreds of people who attended the vigil, Liew said: “My family and I are grateful for this public show of sympathy and solidarity. Our spirits are bolstered, because we do not feel so alone and abandoned.”

Earlier this month, similar vigils were held in Shah Alam, Malacca, George Town and Johor Baru.

Liew, who lost her mother two days ago, said this was the first time since her marriage to Koh that she had been without his companionship, advice and love for such a long period.

“Most of all, I miss the calm comfort of his presence and partnership. I lost my mother two days ago, and bade farewell to her at her funeral this morning. This weekend, I feel Raymond's absence so acutely that it is a struggle to stand here and address you,” she added.

Principled, but peaceful

Liew also spoke of her husband's humble and selfless nature.

“If he were here right now, Raymond would be talking to you about the need to help those who are poor, vulnerable, marginalised or defenceless,” she said.

Leaving his religious ministry as a pastor in 2004 to focus on secular charity work, Liew said this was because Koh had felt a deep sense of obligation to the poor.

As a child, she said, her husband had lived with his parents and eight siblings in a two-room kampung house in Johor.

“These are the roots of Raymond’s belief in an ever-loving God of the meek, the weak and the poor. This is what motivated him as a man of faith.

“He didn't pick or choose whom he helped. He founded Harapan Komuniti as a non-profit undertaking that supported this unconditional stand to not discriminate who should or should not receive assistance and support,” she added.

Admitting that Koh was at times “fearlessly principled”, Liew however said the pastor has always been non-confrontational when it came to dealing with criticism or attacks from others.

“His approach has always been for peaceful dialogue and sharing,” she noted.