ABOUT 150 people turned up for last night’s candlelight vigil for four missing people with only one thought in mind.

The four – Pastor Raymond Koh, Pastor Joshua Hilmy and wife, Ruth, and activist Amri Che Mat worked for the poor and needy, they did things that other people did not want to do and they should not be treated this way.

All four have gone missing without a trace and the only thing, for sure, that connects them was that they worked for the poor and needy.

A spokesman for the event organiser, Suaram, took it a step further when he told the crowd at Dataran Merdeka yesterday that the abduction of Pastor Koh, especially, showed that it was carried out by well-trained professionals.

“Since the release of the CCTV footage of Pastor Raymond’s abduction, many Malaysians have come to the conclusion that this looks like a state-sponsored group, they were professionals, they knew what they were doing, they were well funded, they came with SUVs, with support vehicles and motorbikes,” said Thomas Fann.

Fann urged the authorities to prioritise the investigations and regularly update the family members and public on the development of the cases.

“We call on the police to use all their power and resources to solve this crime,” he added.

The mixed crowd last night at Suaram’s “Di Mana Mereka?” (Where are they?) event was also there to raise awareness on the three cases.

The crowd was mostly made up of family and friends, who came from as far as Perlis to show solidarity with the family members of the missing four.

“My only concern is this shouldn’t happen in Malaysia where people can simply take a person away. Police should be responsible and take this matter seriously,” Zul A Talib, a volunteer from Perlis Hope said. Perlis Hope is a Perlis-based NGO founded by Amri.

Koh’s wife Susanna Liew, who was also present said she felt great empathy with Amri’s wife, Norhayati Ariffin, as they shared the same predicament.

“It’s very frustrating for other families, just as it has been for us.

“I’m sad and disappointed because instead of trying to find the abductors, he (Koh) is now being investigated. No matter what these four have done, they cannot be abducted in broadlight. No justification, no excuse,” she said, addressing the sombre crowd.

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar was reported as saying that police had received a report alleging Koh was attempting to evangelise to some youths in Kangar, Perlis.

Liew told The Malaysian Insight that this was the first time she had heard that her husband’s abduction may be related to his alleged attempt of evangelising to a group of youths on Jan 19 and 20. Koh was alleged to have done this with two others.

On the morning of Feb 13, Koh was abducted from his vehicle while he was travelling along Jalan SS4B/10, Petaling Jaya.

The incident was captured by CCTV, which showed 15 men in three black SUVs carrying out the abduction that took a matter of seconds.

Koh’s car, a silver Honda Accord with the registration number ST 5515D, is still missing.

The former president of the Bar Council and chair of Bersih Ambiga Sreenevasan who also present last night called for the perpetrators to release all the abductees.

“This is something you wouldn’t want to wish on your worst enemy. If anyone does anything illegal, they must be charged and brought to justice no matter how much you don’t like what they do.

“But this is unacceptable. We must promise ourselves, the victims and families that if something like this happens to someone we know, we must not remain silent,” she said.

A slight drizzle did not dampen the spirits of those who had gathered for one hour at Dataran Merdeka as a show of support for the families of Pastor Koh and three others who have gone missing over the past five months.

Hilmy’s disappearance was first highlighted in an Australian website, xyz.net.au, on Feb 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 Nov 30, 2016.

The article stated that Hilmy had received threatening phone calls prior to his disappearance.

Amir, meanwhile, a social activist, was part of the 1997 Mount Everest Malaysian expedition team. He went missing on the night of Nov 24, 2016, after he reportedly told his eldest daughter that he was going out.

His wife, Norhayati, 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 9, 2017.