The police are working on three leads on the abduction of pastor Raymond Koh, inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said.

Among the angles being looked into, he said, is whether the case is related to personal matters.

"We hope the family will come forward to tell us what they have not told us," Khalid told a press conference in Penang this morning.

On the same note, he said police are also checking whether the case is related to extremist groups or whether the pastor was kidnapped for ransom.

The police chief also urged all quarters not to spread rumours or make assumptions about the case as it could put the pastor in danger.

"Blatantly, I say shut up. Let us do our work and don't make our work more difficult. Don't give any suggestions, incite or make the situation more tense.

"We always remind the press when it comes to kidnapping for ransom, we should not talk so much about it, and just allow us to do our jobs.

"And here, people are holding candlelight vigils. This will only put the lives of the pastor in danger," Khalid (photo) said.

He added that in certain cases, kidnappers have held their victims for months before asking for ransom.

Koh was abducted on Feb 13 in Kelana Jaya.

On Sunday, vigils were held in Shah Alam, Johor Baru and Penang, to show solidarity with Koh's family.

Gerakan deputy youth chief Andy Yong had said most people have the mindset that the abduction was influenced by someone of higher authority in the government.

Asked to comment, Khalid said the abductors could have emulated their act from movies.

During the vigil in Shah Alam, Parti Amanah Negara's Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Yusof Rawa said he was willing to negotiate with Koh's abductors to release the pastor in order to preserve the good name of Islam.

To which, Khalid replied: "Negotiate with whom? We don't even know them.

"We just urge anyone who has information to tell us directly and not through the media."