Pastor Raymond Koh’s Abduction Highlights Anti-Christian Fears in Malaysia

PETALING JAYA: On the morning of 13 February, Raymond Koh was exiting a highway in the leafy suburb of Kelana Jaya just outside of the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.A widely circulated CCTV clip appears to show what happened next. A convoy of black SUVs and motorcycles is seen swooping down on his car and boxing it in by the side of the road.

Then, several men jump out and run to Mr Koh. There is a flurry of activity, and the convoy moves off – along with his car. It is allegedly the last time anyone sees him. At first, it appeared to be an isolated case of a possible kidnapping.

But as the weeks wore on, more reports of missing Malaysians began to surface. Many now believe these incidents are connected in what some call an “unprecedented” spate of disappearances, which has mystified the country and raised fears of religious vigilantism.

Mr Koh’s apparent abduction – an episode that takes place in just under a minute – took place in broad daylight and was witnessed by other drivers who later lodged police reports. Police are investigating the clip.

“The operation was very well planned. They knew who he was, where he was going, and probably had been tracking him,” Mr Koh’s son Jonathan tells the BBC. “It was very professionally executed.”

‘Religious Elements’

Abductions are not unheard of in Malaysia, but kidnappers usually make contact quickly with victims’ families for a ransom.

Two months on, however, Mr Koh’s family has not heard a single word from him or his alleged abductors.

They believe it is no ordinary kidnapping, and that “religious elements” took the pastor in an act of “vigilantism or terrorism”.