Last Malaysian hostages free
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 (Bernama)
-- The three remaining Malaysian hostages held captive by gunmen on Jolo island in
southern Philippines have been handed over to the Malaysian government in Zamboanga City
on Sunday.
The three, dive master Ken Fong Yin Ken, wildlife ranger Basilius Jim and cook Kua Yu
Loong, were handed over to Ambassador Mohamed Arshad M. Hussain by chief Philippine
government negotiator Robert Aventajado at anews conference there.
The news conference at Zamboanga City was televised live by several Philippine TV stations
and also international television network CNN. "I feel very happy. There's no words
to describe how happy I am," Ken Fong told reporters at the news conference organised
by the Philippine authorities.
Ken Fong was among nine Malaysians and 12 foreigners kidnapped at gunpoint from Sipadan
island, Malaysia's dive resort, on April 23.
Kapt James Fong, who is Ken Fong's father, later flew the three Malaysians out of Jolo
island to nearby Zamboanga City aboard a 12-seater Beechcraft aircraft belonging to Sabah
Air.
Thanking the efforts of the Philippine government, Mohamed Arshad said everybody knew
negotiating with abductors was an arduous and most difficult "assignment".
"God willing more results will be forthcoming very soon. I am confident my diplomatic
colleagues, the ambassadors of France, Finland, Germany and South Africa will very soon
also receive their nationals abducted from Sipadan," he said.
The abductors earlier freed six Malaysians in stages, along with a Filipina and a German
woman.
Ranger Zulkarnian Hashim was freed on June 23, followed by police personnel Abdul Jawah
Salawat on July 14, and Wildlife Department ranger Francis Masangkim, 34, Lee Hock Leong,
20, Baln Krishnan Nair, 34 and Vincent Kwong, 40 on July 21.
Of the 21 people kidnapped from Sipadan island, nine Malaysians, a German woman and a
Filipina have been released.
Also present at the news conference at Zamboanga City were Deputy Education Minister Datuk
Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin, former Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee and Libyan envoy Dr
Rajab Azzarouq. Abdul Aziz and Yong were there in their personal capacities to assist in
the negotiations.
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