| TEARS AND
SMILES AS FREED HOSTAGE MEETS FAMILY Lance-Cpl Abdul Jawah breaks down in an emotional reunion with his wife,
children and parents at the police officers' mess in Kota Kinabalu
THERE was no need for words.
Lance-Cpl Abdul Jawah Salawat's tears told the whole story.
After nearly three months as a
hostage of the Abu Sayyaf in Jolo in the southern Philippines, he became the second
Malaysian to be released last Friday.
Yesterday, he saw his wife and
three children in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah for the first time since he was taken captive.
Despite the constant flashing
of cameras, Lance-Cpl Abdul Jawah broke down in tears as he kissed the hands of his
parents Salawat Januh and Asburah Pauddin.
He then hugged his wife
Norsimah Musbani, daughters Sharifah Amunah, 15, and Mahani Abdul Jawah, 10, and son
Hishammuddin Abdul Jawah, one.
Throughout this emotional
reunion at the police officers' mess here, not a word was exchanged. The family just
wanted to touch and kiss him.
Dressed in their Friday best,
his family was just relieved.
""I am grateful to
God that I am home. I wish the others are released soon as well,'' Lance-Cpl Abdul Jawah
told reporters in faltering Malay.
A Bajau, he speaks no English
and just passable Malay.
He was the second hostage to be
released by the rebels. The first was wildlife ranger Zulkarnain Hashim, who was freed on
June 22.
Yesterday, the rebels also
released German hostage Renate Wallert.
The remaining hostages comprise
seven Malaysians, two more Germans, a South African couple, two French, two Finns, two
Filipinos and a Lebanese national.
Lance-Cpl Abdul Jawah said he
was told at 1 am on Friday that he would be released. By noon, he was having lunch with
government emissaries on board the ferry, Lady Luck, which took him to Zamboanga city.
At 4.30 pm yesterday, he
touched down at Kota Kinabalu airport after a short stop in Manila.
He attributed his police
training as a crucial factor in helping him survive the 81-day ordeal, with the importance
of camaraderie proving essential.
""With Zulkarnain, we
rallied the fellow hostages together. Because the others are only civilians, it was
tougher for them,'' he said.
However, he did not elaborate
on how the two kept up the spirits of the other hostages.
Fearing for the safety of the
remaining captives, Malaysian security officials kept signalling for him not to comment on
the situation.
After Mr Zulkarnain's release
on June 22, the lance corporal said everyone in the camp felt sad.
""But we had to carry
on as usual. We had no choice in order to survive.''
He said the hostages had been
treated well by the Abu Sayyaf with an adequate supply of food. There was also freedom of
movement for them within the rebels' hideout in Jolo.
Most of the time, the hostages
talked to each other to pass the time.
""At night, I would
just lie down thinking of my family in the kampung and wishing I was home,'' he said.
After having finally come home,
he also had some words of comfort for the families of the remaining hostages:
""Keep calm and be patient. By the will of God, all will be released in a few
more days.''
By the end of the press
conference, he was all smiles. The ordeal was over.
Back to Sipadan Hostages News
Back
to This Week's Borneo News |
