Chee Ming reads The Borneo Post Online news on the latest information from the Philippine Embassy.
SIBU: The ransom due date of April 30 set by the abductors for the families of the four hostages taken in Sabah waters on April 1 has passed, but the families have not received any news on the matter.
Wong Chee Ming, father of the abducted brothers Teck Kang and Teck Chii, said they feared for the safety of the four, the other two being Wong Hung Sing and Johnny Lau.
He said the last contact was made two weeks ago when the abductors let Teck Kang call home to inform them about the ransom deadline.
“We have received no more calls (since). We have asked the police, but, we hit the brick wall. The police only said they were checking and following up the case. For one month, we have been hoping.”
Reporters were at his house on Friday evening as the families waited for the call.
Chee Ming said if a call should come, it usually came between 6pm and 8pm.
The father said he was glad that the reporters were waiting with them for the call on Friday night.
“They could be the witnesses. They could be the proof that the incident was not a scam.”
Chee Ming said that when the CNN news was released last week on the name list of hostages in the hands of Abu Sayyaf, they had been flooded with calls and enquiries as the list did not include the names of the four victims from here.
He said the publication of the exclusive report by The Borneo Post Online on Friday evening had cleared the air when the Philippines Embassy confirmed that the four were in the hands of another group of terrorists in Sulu.
On Friday evening, relatives and friends also gathered at Chee Ming’s house to wait for the call of abducted Teck Kang.
They were there to give moral support.
On Saturday morning, relatives and friends continued to gather at Chee Ming’s house.
Donations continued to arrive but had slowed down as the ransom demand hit the deadline.
Chee Ming thanked the members of the public for their concern.
“We are touched. We appreciate their support. If there is a need to update information, we shall call for a press conference at an appropriate time. Not now — the greatest concern now is the safety of the four.”