World Council of Churches urges for intensified probe into pastor's abduction

PETALING JAYA: The World Council of Churches (WCC) has urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak to intensify investigations into the abduction of pastor Raymond Koh.
In an open letter to Najib, WCC General Secretary Reverend Dr. Olav Fyske Tveit said the council is ‘gravely concerned’ about the incident, adding that it has caused fear among religious minorities.
“It is highly appreciated that freedom of religion is enshrined in the Malaysian Constitution and the majority of people live in peace and harmony in your multicultural and multi-religious country.
“But this disturbing incident, which is causing deep anxiety and concern for the life and wellbeing of pastor Koh, is also promoting fear and mistrust among the religious minorities,” Tviet wrote in the letter from the council’s office in Switzerland.
He added Koh’s abduction has been done in a “cruel and organised manner” which can be equated to an “act of terror”.
“Since his abduction, no information concerning the safety and whereabouts of pastor Koh has been given to his family and no ransom has been demanded,” he said.
Tviet added Koh is well known for his community work but the latter had also been accused of proselytising and had received threats on several occasions.
In 2011, Harapan Komuniti, a NGO led by Koh had been accused of proselytising to Muslims by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais).
Koh, 62, was driving at Jalan SS4B/10, Petaling Jaya on Feb 13 when he was abducted by a group of masked men.
Police had detained a 32-year-old man on Thursday in Ampang, Selangor, in connection with the abduction.