| KIDNAPPING MAY BE POLITICAL,
SAYS IGP
KUALA LUMPUR, April 24
(Bernama) -- Police said politics could be among the motives of six heavily armed men who
took 20 people hostage and fled from Sipadan island in Sabah Sunday night.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Norian Mai said police could not yet confirm the
motive for the abduction but politics, ransom and feelings of dissatisfaction were among
the possible reasons.
Asked whether the kidnapping was connected to the Abu Sayyaf rebel group which was holding
several hostages in southern Philippines, he said "there is a possibility".
"We seriously feel that politics may be a reason," he told a press conference at
the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters here Monday afternoon.
As at 4.30pm, police had not made any contact with the kidnappers, he said.
He said five of the kidnappers who raided the resort island at 7.30pm were armed with AK47
assault machine guns and one had a bazooka.
Norian confirmed the nationalities of the 11 foreigners among the hostages -- three
Germans, two South Africans, two French nationals, two Finns, one Lebanese and one
Filipino who was working on the island.
The nine Malaysians taken hostage comprise four workers of the Wildlife Department, three
workers of the Sipadan resort centre, a policeman and a staff of Syarikat Borneo Divers.
He said an American couple, both aged 51, who were captured together with the 20 people
managed to escape before they were forced into a boat.
"They fled into the jungles and emerged this morning, and police have taken them to
Semporna. Their condition was good and they did not have injuries," he said.
Norian said two more policemen were on patrol and several other staff of the resort were
around when the armed men struck.
He said an American couple, both aged 51, who were captured together with the 20 people
managed to escape before they were forced into a boat.
"They fled into the jungles and emerged this morning, and police have taken them to
Semporna. Their condition was good and they did not have injuries," he said.
Norian said the armed men raided the police base on the island before capturing the
hostages at 7.30pm.
Danny K.K.Chin, a staff of Sipadan Resort and Tours who managed to escaped, said the
hostages were having their dinner when the pirates rushed in and seized the money and
valuables.
There were then seven workers at the resort centre.
Two policemen were on patrol at another part of the island which has four resorts.
Norian said the kidnappers came in two 'jongkong' boats.
"And when fleeing with the hostages they used only one jongkong boat and seized a
boat belonging to the resort centre. Their other boat was left behind," he said.
The IGP said the kidnappers were all believed to be foreigners.
"From the descriptions we have, we conclude that the criminals are foreigners because
they spoke fluent English but not the local dialect," he said.
He said police had deployed additional units from their air and marine wings for
patrolling the country's waters.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said this evening that the location of the 20
hostages had been identified.
"We now know their exact location," he told reporters in Alor Setar.
A Malaysian crisis management team was mapping out strategies to handle with the
situation, he said.
The Defence Ministry has despatched a patrol boat and a maritime surveillance aircraft to
the location where the pirates are holding the hostages.
"The ministry has also placed all its units on alert," said Najib.
He said the ministry was standing by to provide logistical support should the police need
to despatch reinforcement urgently.
But he gave a non-committal reply when asked whether military or police commandos would be
sent to free the hostages.
Najib assured tourists that ensuring their safety was of prime importance to the
government and it was taking measures towards this end.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said that based on information given to Wisma
Putra, all the 20 hostages were safe.
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