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Families Of Kidnapped Seamen Fear For Their Safety
Family members of the hostages appeal for help.
April 23rd, 2016 | 08:24 AM | 3124 views
SIBU, SARAWAK
Family members of the four Malaysians kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf gunmen are living in despair not knowing what to do and how to help in bringing back their loved ones.
After 22 days in captivity, the families also expressed their anxiety over what would happen to their loved ones while they toiled nights and days and prayed for their safety.
A statement issued by the family members yesterday said, “It has been 22 days since they were abducted and so far, we are not getting any form of help or any kind of statement from the relevant authorities with regards to their safety. This is a very desperate wait,”
On April 2, four seamen, all from Sibu; Wong Teck Kang, 35, and his brother Teck Chii, 29, Johnny Lau, 21 and Wong Hung Sing, 23, were kidnapped by the eight Abu Sayyaf gunmen who boarded their tugboat about 100km from Tawau.
The tugboat, carrying charcoal, was then heading for Tawau from Manila. There were nine crewmen on board. The militants only abducted the four Malaysians.
The remaining five were nationals from Myamnar and an Indonesian captain who were allowed to continue their journey to Tawau.
Last Monday, one of the hostages, Teck Kang, reportedly called home to his father Chee Ming telling him to prepare the ransom money in exchange for their safety. He also reportedly said the money must be ready soonest, converted into Philippines pesos, and to deliver the money to the middlemen who in turn would transfer it to the militants in exchange for their lives.
“We hope the government will help to speed up the matter to ensure that the lives of our children are not in danger,” the statement added.
The families said they could not afford to pay the ransom as the abductors were demanding a big amount, although they did not disclose how big it was.
The families said they had also sought advice from the prime minister through Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing and had also sought the advice from Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem through Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh.
“However, until today, we have not heard of anything from the government on the progress or whether there is any negotiation going on with the kidnappers.”
Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST
by The Borneo Post
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