Malaysian witness’ kidnapping shows ‘profound breakdown’ in protecting women: activist

Pamela Ling’s abduction highlights safety failures in Malaysia, women’s rights group says, even as the search expands to Singapore

The disappearance of Malaysian mother-of-three Pamela Ling, who was abducted last month while on her way to assist in a corruption investigation, marks a troubling failure by the state to safeguard women, a rights group has said, as police widen their search to include interviews with her children in Singapore.

Ling was abducted on April 9 from a private-hire car by individuals dressed as police officers while en route to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters.

She was assisting in a corruption investigation involving her estranged husband, Sarawak-based businessman Thomas Hah.

The brazen daylight abduction shocked the public, while police have come under fire for suggesting Ling may have staged her own disappearance to flee the country.

Nazreen Nizam, the executive director of the Women’s Aid Organisation, said while the investigation into Ling’s whereabouts was ongoing, there also needed to be an examination of the lapses by the agencies involved in ensuring her safety.

“When a woman can vanish while on her way to assist an official investigation, I think it signals a profound breakdown in the duty of care owed by the state to every woman who engages with its institutions,” Nazreen told This Week in Asia.

The MACC has attempted to distance itself from blame in its handling of Ling’s case, stating that “allegations of harassment or misconduct are unfounded”.

But Ling’s lawyer, Sangeet Kaur Deo, has accused the commission of irregularities ranging from improper notice procedures to repeated questioning on matters outside the MACC’s legal scope during nine previous interrogation sessions.

She also questioned why the commission failed to issue an arrest warrant after Ling stopped reporting to them on the day she disappeared.

The intensity and frequency of questioning have raised concerns beyond her legal team. Even the MACC’s own former chief commissioner, Dzulkifli Ahmad, said the agency’s actions might have violated protocol.

He noted that officers were not permitted to continue taking statements from suspects after their remand ended unless they were reclassified as witnesses.

Ling was held in remand for only three days, from January 9 to 11.

Police have since expanded their investigation beyond Malaysia’s borders, seeking help from Interpol to interview Ling’s children in Singapore.

“Interpol is arranging to record the statement of the victim’s children at the Malaysian High Commission in Singapore in the near future,” Putrajaya district police chief Aidi Sham Mohamed said on Friday.

To date, 27 witness statements had been recorded and a partial facial composite of one of the suspects had been developed, he said.

This Week in Asia has contacted Interpol for comment but has not yet received a reply.

Ling’s family has sharply criticised Kuala Lumpur police chief Rusdi Mohd Isa for suggesting her disappearance may have been self-orchestrated.

“Surely the police are aware that Ling is a mother of three, one of whom suffers from a serious medical condition requiring regular treatment, failing which it could be fatal if not treated promptly,” Kaur said in a statement on Friday.