IT has been 10 days since Petaling Jaya ex-councillor Peter Chong Fook Meng was last seen. Here is what police know so far:

* He bought two bus tickets to Hat Yai, Thailand

* He has financial difficulties

* He complained to close friends no one was helping him

Police sources investigating the disappearance of Chong believe that the former councillor is in Hat Yai.

This came about after investigations revealed he bought two bus tickets on April 5 – the day he was last seen by his family – at the Terminal Bersepadu Selatan central station.

Investigators have yet to ascertain the identity of the person he travelled with to Hat Yai.

Police sources also revealed that Chong may have been having monetary problems. This after checking his bank accounts and unpaid bills, but they are unsure if that was the reason why he has gone missing.

“He did, however, tell some of his friends that he helped so many people, but when he was facing difficulties, no one came to his aid,” a police source told The Malaysian Insight. It, however, could not be ascertained what help Chong needed.

A good friend of Chong’s, Kapar MP G. Manivannan, told The Malaysian Insight that Chong loved to help people, but did not know if he had personal or financial problems.

“We were close as we communicated with each other often via messages and it was always about politics,” said Manivannan, adding that Chong always spoke his mind.

Chong who used to work as political aide of Subang MP Sivarasa, was passionate about two things – politics and social service.

“He loves to help people,” said Manivannan.

He was not sure what prompted Chong to disappear, adding that they last exchanged messages on April 6, when the controversial RUU355 Bill was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat.

It was also learnt that Chong had yet to make contact with his family or the police, even after police revealed in a press conference that he went to Thailand via the Bukit Kayu Hitam border crossing.

Chong was reported missing after he posted an ominous message on Facebook about being warned by a stranger that people were disappearing, and urged him to be careful. The stranger pointed out that Chong was seen at the vigil of Pastor Raymond Koh, who was abducted on Feb 13.

The Malaysian Insight also made numerous attempts to contact Chong’s son, Darryl, in Kuala Lumpur but calls and text messages have gone unanswered.

Chong’s disappearance was reported by Darryl on April 8, sparking speculation that the 54-year-old, who was also a social activist, suffered the same fate as four other activists who had disappeared in the last six months.

Apart from Pastor Raymond Koh, civil society group Perlis Hope founder Amri Che Mat, Pastor Joshua Hilmy and his wife, Ruth, have disappeared without a trace. – April 15, 2017.