Husband unperturbed when he discovered wife baptised, Suhakam hears

KUALA LUMPUR – Fadzlina Amran, who was supposedly first baptised by one “Pastor Victor” in late 2014, said her husband did not appear concerned at all when he heard of the news. 

Testifying at the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) public inquiry into the disappearance of Pastor Joshua Hilmy and wife Ruth Sitepu, Fadzlina said she went for her first baptism without the presence or knowledge of her husband Iqbal Mirza Mohd Jalaluddin. 

However, when informed later, she said Iqbal did not respond in any unusual fashion. 

“He didn’t show any out of the ordinary reaction. He neither scolded nor complained. He was just cool and relaxed about it,” she said today, much to the bemusement of the inquiry. 

Panelist Jerald Joseph pointed out the issue of baptism is something uncommon and would be huge news for anyone, questioning if the couple had been performing such rituals previously. 

Fadzlina merely replied that she has no further reasons to give. 

Her confession comes as a revelation to the inquiry after she, and Iqbal yesterday, initially testified that their first baptism only occurred on January 1, 2015 with Joshua, as they sought spiritual treatment together. 

Asked why she did not consult with her husband on her first baptism with the now-deceased Pastor Victor, Fadzlina said Iqbal was not at home at the time. 

“I only told him on a later date. I can’t remember where my husband was at that moment, perhaps working,” she said, adding that she did not bother texting or calling him to inform. 

To this, the panel asked: “Shouldn’t you be informing him on such a big thing? It’s not an everyday matter.”

Fadzlina said they don’t usually update each other about every single thing they do, and that she was more comfortable about sharing things with her mother. 

Amusingly, Fadzlina said her mother was only informed of her treatment with several pastors just a few months ago after she was called in as witness for the inquiry. 

According to Fadzlina, she knew of Victor through a Sabahan friend, but said they only met once during the “bathing ritual” at her residence’s swimming pool some time in 2014. 

Earlier, she said she and Iqbal were only baptised twice, with Joshua and Pastor Raymond Koh in January and February 2015 respectively, before a council member presented a photograph evidence of her prior baptism with Victor. – The Vibes, January 6, 2021