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Pastor’s mysterious abduction sparks off rumour mill

Why the exceptional and uncharacteristic silence from the authorities over the kidnapping of Pastor Raymond Koh? Why do the police appear clueless? It does not bode well for the pastor's family, hence the need for his son's second police report, expressing fears that his father may have been murdered.

According to media reports, there is closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footage of the incident. If there is one unmistakable crucial clue, it is the efficiency of the kidnapping. It was well planned and executed. It is the sort of operation you associate with trained personnel out on a mission.

Who in the country possesses such professional and well-honed skills? Who is so desperate as to kidnap a harmless man doing good works? What is their motive? Is there a secret agenda?

Body language reveals a lot and there is no denying the body language of the kidnappers. They were quick and efficient. The operation was not carried out by your rough and tumble street criminals. The police should spare no efforts in securing the release of the victim or risk losing public confidence.

In the intervening silence (the police chief reportedly will instruct the police to keep Koh's family updated) people speculate and spread rumours. That's not always helpful. The people must rely on factual police briefings, which sadly, appear non-existent.

This is not a matter of involving only Christians. Can the public ever feel safe anymore with kidnappers roaming the streets in black SUVs?

Malaysia's reputation is already at risk as the international media picks up the story and social media is spreading conversations and news on the kidnapping. Global organisations and human rights groups are criticising the kidnapping as an assault on religious freedom and the growth in religious persecution...


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