Pastor Koh’s family celebrates his 63rd birthday, without him

2nd Nov 2017

KUALA LUMPUR: The family of missing Pastor Raymond Koh today celebrated his 63rd birthday today on the sidelines of a public inquiry into missing persons.

In an emotional celebration at the office of Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) here, Koh’s wife Susanna Liew and his daughter Esther blew out the candles on his behalf.

The Kohs and their friends, who attended the Suhakam hearing today, also offered prayers for his safe return.

Liew told reporters that they remained hopeful Koh would return despite being missing for 262 days since Feb 13.

“We are sad that he is not here this year for his birthday,” she said, while holding back tears.

“I hope this Suhakam hearing will also bring some answers on the disappearance,” she said.

Suhakam is holding the inquiry to determine if Koh, activist Amri Che Mat, Pastor Joshua Hilmy and his wife Ruth’s disappearances were cases of enforced or involuntary disappearance as defined under the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

Suhakam commissioner and retired Court of Appeal judge Mah Weng Kwai chairs the inquiry, along with fellow commissioners Prof Dr Aishah Bidin and Dr Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Salleh.

Amri, 44, who co-founded charity organisation Perlis Hope, has been missing since Nov 24 last year.

His wife, Norhayati Ariffin, said witnesses saw five vehicles blocking the path of Amri’s car before he was whisked away, just 550 metres from their home in Bukit Chabang, Perlis.

Joshua and his wife, Ruth, meanwhile, were last seen on Nov 30 last year. A police report was lodged in Klang but the case was transferred to Petaling Jaya police as the complainant said the missing persons lived in Kampung Tunku.

Article found at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2017/11/02/pastor-kohs-family-celebrates-his-63rd-birthday-without-him/