‘Same armed group from Philippines kidnapped two Malaysians in Sabah’

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KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry yesterday confirmed that the same armed group from the Philippines had kidnapped two Malaysians in Sabah in June and July respectively.

Its deputy minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the two Malaysians, a marine police constable and a caged-fish breeder, were still safe and the relevant authorities were communicating each day with certain parties to find the best way to get the two released.

“The group has been contacting us daily and informing us that the victims are safe and comfortable. That’s what we know.

“Our citizens are held captive by the same people and one of the two criminals shot dead in Sabah (Penampang) recently, was from the same armed group involved in the two kidnapping incidents,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby, here.

Constable Zakia Aliep , 26, was abducted by a group of eight heavily armed men who ambushed a police marine team in Pulau Mabul, Semporna on July 12.

Zakia’s colleague, Corporal Ab Rajah Jamuan, 32, was killed in the 11.10pm incident. The kidnappers have reportedly demanded a RM10 million ransom for Zakia’s release.

Caged-fish breeder Chan Sai Chiun, 32, was kidnapped in Kunak, Sabah, on June 16, by a group of armed men who came in a speedboat when they raided his above-water stilt house.

His kidnappers have reportedly reduced the amount of ransom for his release to RM3 million.

Sabah police yesterday confirmed that the two criminals shot dead in Penampang recently were members of the kidnapping group linked to the Sulu Sultanate army in southern Philippines. Based on intelligence information, there are 14 groups of kidnappers from southern Philippines and at least four of these have committed the crime in the waters of eastern Sabah.

Wan Junaidi said the authorities did not want to divulge too much on the kidnapping cases as the negotiations were on-going while they also did not want to jeopardise the safety of the victims.

“We are following the guidelines set to solve these cases,” he said. — Bernama