Missing Pastor Koh’s family says Malaysians mustn’t forget
Still missing: the disappearances of Pastor Raymond Koh, activist Amri Che Mat and two others, Pastor Joshua Hilmy and his wife Ruth Sitepu, have remained unsolved.
PETALING JAYA: The wife of missing pastor Raymond Koh has launched a campaign to mark the 4th anniversary of his disappearance in a mysterious abduction that has remained unsolved.
At an online forum this evening to mark the anniversary, Koh’s wife Susanna Liew called on Malaysians to uphold four principles regarding the disappearance of Koh and three others.
She urged Malaysians to reflect on the disappearance; remember the missing persons; respond and support each other; and urge the authorities to release Koh and the others.
Koh was abducted on Feb 13, 2017, in what the human rights commission Suhakam has deemed an “enforced disappearance”.
Liew urged Malaysians to pray for other victims of these enforced disappearances, namely activist Amri Che Mat, Pastor Joshua Hilmy and his wife Ruth Sitepu.
She encouraged people to reach out for help if a similar incident happened to their loved ones.
“We must support and encourage each other to speak out. For example. Norhayati (the wife of Perlis-based activist Amri Che Mat) is very isolated in Perlis, so we must show support for her,” she said.
Others taking part in this evening’s event were human rights activists and lawyers such as Rama Ramanathan, spokesman for the Citizen Action Group on Enforced Disappearance; lawyers Jerald Gomez and Gurdial Singh Nijar; and sociopolitical critic Mariam Mokhtar.
The panel members raised concerns on the deterioration of human rights and freedom of religions in Malaysia. Mariam said Koh’s disappearance made Malaysia seem to be a country that was determined to suppress the rights of its citizens. She also noted that extremism is on the rise in Malaysia.
At an online forum this evening to mark the anniversary, Koh’s wife Susanna Liew called on Malaysians to uphold four principles regarding the disappearance of Koh and three others.
She urged Malaysians to reflect on the disappearance; remember the missing persons; respond and support each other; and urge the authorities to release Koh and the others.
Koh was abducted on Feb 13, 2017, in what the human rights commission Suhakam has deemed an “enforced disappearance”.
Liew urged Malaysians to pray for other victims of these enforced disappearances, namely activist Amri Che Mat, Pastor Joshua Hilmy and his wife Ruth Sitepu.
She encouraged people to reach out for help if a similar incident happened to their loved ones.
“We must support and encourage each other to speak out. For example. Norhayati (the wife of Perlis-based activist Amri Che Mat) is very isolated in Perlis, so we must show support for her,” she said.
Others taking part in this evening’s event were human rights activists and lawyers such as Rama Ramanathan, spokesman for the Citizen Action Group on Enforced Disappearance; lawyers Jerald Gomez and Gurdial Singh Nijar; and sociopolitical critic Mariam Mokhtar.
The panel members raised concerns on the deterioration of human rights and freedom of religions in Malaysia. Mariam said Koh’s disappearance made Malaysia seem to be a country that was determined to suppress the rights of its citizens. She also noted that extremism is on the rise in Malaysia.
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kt notes:
Undeniably these acts of "enforced disappearances" have been extremely cruel, ruthless and callous.
I hate to say this but I hold faint hopes for their rescues.
Sometimes, it is hard to understand the cruelty of man towards their fellowmen for something as simple as a different religion.
ReplyDeleteIt is very obvious the establishment has been complicit and like KT, I don't hold much hope for their safe return
What about Teoh Beng Hock? Why no picture of Liow Tiong Lai and Ong Tee Keat promising help, this and that with TBH's grieving family?
ReplyDeleteMCA was in power from 2009-2018 NINE YEARS, but no Justice for TBH. Again MCA back in power from 2020 and still no Justice for TBH. But only harp about Father Lim for "no action" in 22 months, when there was...TT started investigations.
Nah....https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2009/07/20/mca-ministers-to-push-for-a-royal-commission-over-teohs-death
QUOTE
MCA ministers to push for a Royal Commission over Teoh's death
NATION
Monday, 20 Jul 2009
MALACCA: MCA Cabinet ministers will forge a united front in the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday to push for the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry to probe into the death of DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock.
Its president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said this was the assurance given to Teoh’s grieving family when he met them at their home in Taman Seri Kelemak here last night.
“MCA ministers will make a united stand in the Cabinet to call for a Royal Commission,” he told reporters here yesterday.
Ong, who was accompanied by party vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and several state party leaders, said the party had come forward to assist the family in whatever way possible on humanitarian grounds....
...Ong, who is also Transport Minister, said that MCA would help the family in several other matters, of which he said were personal in nature.
Earlier, Teoh’s family members were seen having a private talk with Ong in their home after he paid his last respects.
The emotional meeting saw Ong explaining to the family members of MCA’s willingness to assist.
UNQUOTE
There are extremists in any and every country in the world.
ReplyDeleteWhat is particularly worrying about these incidents in Malaysia is that the perpetrators very likely had links to , were/ are protected by people in Malaysian law enforcement agencies, and probably directly involved them as well.
That is why the investigations into their disappearances were less than half-hearted and seem to disappear into a black hole.
Malusia sounds more and more like a South American military junta or African Kleptocracy.
Kalau ada IGP Kristian macam Indonesia penyiasatan akan lanjut. Kristian adil, No Fear or Favour.
ReplyDeleteContoh AG Kristian Tommy banyak tokoh-tokoh politic kena saman, masuk penjara...tapi bila balik AG Ikan Haru(a)n ramai di-bebas macam Riza Aziz, Musa Aman, abang Azeez Tabung Haji dsb...
Donald Trump dan Bolsonaro Kristian juga
DeleteIt is important to note the Enforced Disappearances occurred during the Ah Jib Gor regime.
ReplyDeleteWhile he may not have been directly linked, the tone of the Race and Religion pronouncements made by him and his cohorts promoted the sense of threat among Zombies against Christianity, and the impunity of extra legal actions.