Abducted Chinese, Pinay released soon—Malaysia

From the Manila Standard Today (Apr 22): Abducted Chinese, Pinay released soon—Malaysia

THE Filipino and Chinese women who were kidnapped from a resort in Sabah are both safe and may be released soon, Malaysian media reported on Monday.

Malaysia’s The Star Online, Police Inspector-General Khalid Abu Bakar said Filipina resort worker Marcy Darawan and Chinese tourist Gao Huayun were “both safe” and “steps [are] being undertaken to secure their release.”

The 28-year-old Gao and 40-year-old Dayawan were abducted by six armed men from the  Singamata Reef Resort in Sabah on April 2 and authorities believe they are being held at an undisclosed island in Mindanao.

Malaysia Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said the kidnappers have demanded P500 million (RM36.4 million) for the release of Gao, but made no ransom demand for Dayawan, who was an employee of the resort.

The Abu Sayyaf, a group of Filipino militants known to have taken several tourists and Malaysians hostage for ransom, are the suspected perpetrators.

“We expect to make a closure soon,” said inspector general Khalid. “Our priority is their safety. Anything we say could pose a threat to their safety.”

Another Malaysian official, Home Minister Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said Filipino authorities are negotiating with unidentified intermediaries for the release of the two women and the reduction of the ransom.

But he declined to elaborate on more details because of security concerns.

Last week, the Malaysian government admitted that the recent kidnapping shows that Malaysia’s borders remains porous and vulnerable to “serious” security threats.

Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak said the incident , the ongoing Flight MH370 crisis and last year’s armed Sulu intrusion in Lahad Datu, Sabah made it more pressing to improve security cooperation between Malaysia and her neighbours.

“Although the risk of conflict between Asean members seems remote, security relationships can be tested by chance events, as the global response to MH370 showed,” said Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak.

“As the recent kidnappings in Semporna suggest, non-state threats remain serious,” Najib added.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/04/22/abducted-chinese-pinay-released-soon-malaysia/