PASTOR Joshua Hilmy and wife, Ruth; Pastor Raymond Koh; and Amri Che Mat had two things in common – they were all religious workers helping the poor and needy.

The other similarity among the four is more ominous – they have all disappeared without a trace.

The first to disappear was Amri on November 24 last year, followed by Hilmy and wife several days later on November 30 and Koh on February 13 this year.

And it is their disappearance, which has raised concerns among their families, civil society and religious bodies, who want answers from the authorities.

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), a civil society group established to monitor and advocate respect of human rights in Malaysia, has now taken the lead to find answers on the missing four.

Suaram will lead other civil society groups in holding a gathering on Saturday at 8.30pm in Dataran Merdeka to stand in solidarity with the families of the missing four.

The event, “Di Mana Mereka?” (Where are they?), is also to raise awareness on the three cases.

“It’s a CSO initiative, (we are) very concerned about their disappearance. It’s a serious issue and it may happen to anyone if it is not stopped… the authorities must take action,” Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy said, adding that these incidents could set a precedent.

Another spokesman for the gathering, Thomas Fann, told The Malaysian Insight they wanted to show solidarity with the family members.

“Some of them have gone missing for up to five months with no news nor breakthrough made by police in their investigations,” said Fann, a social activist and chairperson of Engage.

“These are not wealthy people and the likelihood that they were kidnapped for ransom is remote. We want to highlight their plight and express our concern to the police about our safety and security as citizens. Can the police still protect us?”

He said the one thing the four had in common was their commitment to helping those in need. 

“The abductions of Pastor Koh and Amri are confirmed with police reports made and media coverage. Amri’s abduction was very similar to Pastor Koh’s, a convoy of SUVs, etc. The disappearance of Hilmy and Ruth was reported by a friend to the police last month.

“What they all had in common was that they were all religious workers helping the poor and needy.” 

Fann added that they would continue pushing the authorities to bring a closure to these cases.

Below are details of the missing four:

* Pastor Raymond Koh

The 62-year-old was abducted after a group of well-trained men stopped his silver Honda Accord along Jalan SS4B/10 in Petaling Jaya.

CCTV footage of Koh’s abduction went viral on social media, showing a professionally executed abduction involving more than 10 men in three black SUVs.

Police had previously arrested 31-year-old Lam Chang Nam, who was later charged with blackmailing Koh’s son, Jonathan. But police said he was not involved in the abduction of Koh.

There has been no ransom demand made for Koh’s release. His family have offered a RM100,000 reward for information on his whereabouts.  

Local media reported that Koh and his NGO, Haparan Komuniti, were accused of proselytising Muslims, following a raid by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) at a thanksgiving dinner in 2011.

Church groups have been rallying around Koh’s family in a show of support.

* Pastor Joshua Hilmy

Hilmy’s disappearance was first highlighted in an Australian website, xyz.net.au, on February 23, 10 days after Koh’s abduction. 

It was reported that the pastor of Malay descent, who was also a former Muslim, went missing on November 30, 2016. 

The article stated that Hilmy had received threatening phone calls prior to his disappearance. It said Hilmy’s car was also missing.

Petaling Jaya police chief Mohd Zani Che Din had told TheSun daily that police didn’t have enough information on the background of Hilmy and his wife Ruth, who is believed to be missing, too.

Police, however, confirmed that a report was lodged by a man who claimed to be a close friend of Hilmy and his wife on March 6.

Zaini told TheSun that the report was lodged in Klang but the case was referred to PJ police, as the complainant said the missing duo lived in Kampung Tunku, Petaling Jaya. The case was classified as a missing persons’ report.

* Amri Che Mat

Amri’s case resurfaced after opposition leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail held a press conference on March 23, highlighting the disappearance of the 43-year-old social activist from Perlis. 

Amri, who was part of the 1997 Mount Everest Malaysian expedition team, went missing on the night of November 24, 2016, after he reportedly told his eldest daughter that he was going out.

His wife, Norhayati Ariffin, 43, who lodged a police report the next day, said there were cars and bikes parked near their house when her husband left home. The vehicles had their lights off despite having occupants. 

Amri’s car was found about 20km away from his house, near an abandoned sports school. Norhayati said her husband did not receive any threatening calls and there were no abnormal transactions in his bank accounts. – April 7, 2017.