DESPITE growing skepticism by police on his take of events, former Petaling Jaya councillor Peter Chong insists that he was abducted in Thailand, and will lodge a report soon to support his case.

The 54-year-old said he would lodge a report at the Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and if necessary, he would go back to Hat Yai, where he claims he was abducted, to lodge a report with the police there.

His statement, the first since his return from Thailand last Sunday, was posted on his Facebook page this afternoon.

“I would, however, like to clarify that I had tried to lodge a police report at the Pattaya police station.

“However, the officer there told me to make the report at the Hat Yai police station which is outside his jurisdiction as I was held against my will in Hat Yai,” said Chong, the former aide to Subang MP R. Sivarasa.

Chong was last seen on April 5. He disappeared for about 10 days, sparking a nationwide search. He returned to Kuala Lumpur from Pattaya, Thailand on Sunday and said he was abducted while in Hat Yai.

“I will continue to give my full cooperation to PDRM and if required, to the Thai police too, in investigating this matter,” he added.

He also expressed his appreciation to Malaysian police, Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok and Thai police for their assistance.

“I would like to thank my family, relatives and friends for their care and concern over my recent disappearance. I apologise for any unnecessary grief and anxiety they had to go through,” he said, adding that the information released by Kuala Lumpur police chief Comm Datuk Amar Singh was accurate and based on his statement.

“Details of me being held against my will as well as the reasons will remain part of the investigations for the police to release as they see fit,” he said.

Chong had claimed he received a call from a man who said he had information on the whereabouts of Koh, who was abducted on Feb 13. Chong said he believed that he was contacted by the man because he had attended vigils held for the missing pastor.

Chong decided to go to Hat Yai on April 7 to meet the source and bought two bus tickets – the other one for a friend, who was going to Bangkok.

At the Hat Yai bus terminal, he and his friend went separate ways. Chong was approached by a stranger who showed him a note that read: “Follow this man”.

The man took Chong to a hotel in Hat Yai where he met “two Malay men” at the lobby. He was grilled on his obsession with Pastor Koh and further questioned on his opposition towards RUU355, the bill seeking to amend the shariah court act, which was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat the same week he went missing.

Chong was told that RUU355 was only for Muslims and being a non-Muslim, he should stay away from the matter. He was then taken to a room in the hotel where he was relieved of his passport, wallet and handphone. He was kept in the room for three days with one man constantly watching over him.

After three days, the abductors took him to Pattaya, about 1,000km from Hat Yai. The abductors allegedly released him and returned his passport.

He sought help from Pattaya police who helped him get in touch with the Malaysian embassy and his son, Darryl, in Kuala Lumpur.

His disappearance had caused panic among the public who suspected it was linked to the abduction of Pastor Raymond Koh, and the disappearance of three other social activists in the past six months.

Apart from Koh, the three who are still missing are Pastor Joshua Hilmy and his wife, Ruth, and Amri Che Mat, the founder of civil society group Perlis Hope.

Chong said he was not aware that the whole nation was looking for him and that he had no access to his handphone as his abductors had taken it along with his passport and wallet. His passport was returned to him when he was released. – April 19, 2017.