KOTA KINABALU: The four kidnapped Sarawakians are reported to have been well treated by the Abu Sayyaf.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar (pic) said from intelligence gathered, they knew that the four were safe and healthy.
“Efforts are being taken to secure their release,” he said, adding he did not want to reveal too much on what the police were doing to bring them home.
Khalid was here to speak to officers on the ground and to get updates on the case.
The four Malaysians – Wong Teck Kang, 31, Wong Hung Sing, 34, Wong Teck Chii, 29, and Johnny Lau Jung Hien, 21 – were kidnapped by armed men in the waters off Pulau Ligitan, Semporna, on April 1.
They were among the nine crew members of a tugboat which was heading back to Malaysia from the Philippines when the abduction took place.
Khalid’s statement came amid the latest beheading threat from gunmen holding another group of hostages in Jolo.
A video showing the suspected kidnappers threatening to kill three hostages, just over a week after they beheaded Canadian captive John Ridsdel, was posted on YouTube.
The video shows the trio from Canada, Norway and the Philippines appealing for help from their governments.
Meanwhile, Khalid said police would only consider traffic police escort for former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for official functions and not for “anti-government or illegal functions”.
“We will consider traffic police escort for Tun Mahathir on a case-to-case basis,” he added.
Khalid said he decided to withdraw the traffic escort because the former premier was attending functions that were against the law such as the Bersih and anti-GST rallies and the Citizen’s Declaration.-thestar
