TAWAU: The Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) and the Indonesian security forces should coordinate their actions in handling Friday’s
kidnapping of four Indonesian crew members from a boat in international waters near the southern Philippines, said Sabah police commissioner Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun.
He said the cooperation was important to expedite efforts of the police to assist following the kidnapping case.
“We will assist in any action with the parties concerned including the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) on the case,” he told reporters after visiting a victim who was injured by a gunshot in the incident, at the Tawau General Hospital here, yesterday.
Abdul Rashid said five more victims who were rescued in the incident were now in Lahad Datu.
“All of them gave their full cooperation and had their statements taken by police over the case,” he said, adding that all the victims saved were aged between 20 and 40.
Abdul Rashid said the tug boat and barge were still in Lahad Datu and Interpol would discuss with the Indonesian police to coordinate on the next course of action on the witnesses.
Meanwhile, Abdul Rashid said cross border criminals were now seen as changing their tactics to target barges which moved slowly and were easier to intercept.
In the 6.30 pm incident on Friday, four out of 10 Indonesian crew members were kidnapped by armed men who were believed to have boarded their trawler which was on their way from the Philippines to Indonesia.
Moments after the incident occurred in international waters, six crew members were rescued by Malaysian security forces when their boat entered Malaysian waters.