THE abduction of Pastor Raymond Koh is a sign of rising religious intolerance in Malaysia and echoes the murder of Dr Joe Fernandez, a Kedah assemblyman, in 2000.

The Straits Times said today Koh’s son, Jonathan, found a package in 2011 addressed to his father with a note written in red: “Laknat Kristian 1. Joe Fernandez. 2. Lu” (Damn Christian. No. 1 Joe Fernandez. No. 2 You).

The Singapore daily drew parallels between Dr Fernandez’s death – he was shot by two assailants in Bukit Mertajam – and Koh’s abduction on February 13, saying that both were linked to alleged attempts to convert Muslims to Christianity.

Malaysian authorities have long claimed that the doctor was killed by members of Kumpulan Mujahiddin Malaysia (KMM), a splinter group of the al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah.

Koh’s death threat six years ago also came following allegations that he was trying to convert Muslims.

The family have denied that Koh had evangelise in the northern state of Perlis and attempted to convert Muslim youths there.

Susanna Liew, Koh’s wife, told The Straits Times recently that “We (the family) met the police twice (since the abduction). The police investigation should not be about his activities but about finding him and bringing his abductors to justice.”

On the morning of February 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 which took seconds.

Police have classified Koh’s case as a missing person’s report but the Straits Times said, the lack of progress “has prompted speculation that the police are dealing with a very resourceful religious militant group that appears ready to violently target those perceived to be threats to Islam”. – April 19, 2017.