I now feel Sabah is 100 times better - former
Jolo hostage
By Jackson Sawatan
KOTA KINABALU, Aug 25 (Bernama) -- Sabah Wildlife Department
ranger Basilius Jim, did not stop looking out of the window of the Sabah Air plane which
was bringing him back home on Sunday evening along with two others from Zamboanga City in
the Southern Philippines.
As the plane was nearing the Sabah airspace, Basilius, 31, who was held captive in Jolo
for nearly four months, after having been snatched by gunmen from Pulau Sipadan on April
23 along with 20 others, kept his eyes fixed on the window.
Down there was the familiar site of Kota Kinabalu -- the green surroundings, the long
white beaches, roads filled with unbroken lines of traffic, modern buildings and vast
residential areas.
"The view may be the same but to me this time it appeared more beautiful and
soothing," he said.
"Now I feel Sabah is not just 10 times better but 100 times better than I last saw
it," said Basilius who was among the last three of the 10 Malaysian hostages freed by
the Jolo gunmen, in an interview with Bernama. Basilius said,"I feel we are fortunate
here as it is peaceful, there is no trouble....there they are free to bring guns
everywhere even children are armed."
Two other Malaysian hostages freed along with him were also on the flight -- diver Ken
Fong Yin Ken, 28, and cook Kua Yu Loong, 24.
"The 10 minutes the plane took to touch down seemed a long time to me even though I
learnt to be patient in the four months we were held captive by the armed men."
"I was more than eager to see my family again," said the father of three, who
lives in Kinarut.
"I have never known such fear in all my life,like during that period when I spent
with the gunmen who called themselves the Abu Sayaf. Fears heightened where there was a
clash between the armed group and the Philippine Armed Forces in early May."
"In the early weeks of captivity in Talipao, we felt disappointed and felt that no
one seemed to care what became of us when not even one Malaysian came to see us."
"We only saw Philippine officers and Western journalists entering the camp where we
were. We were wondering why no Malaysian officer had come to see us."
"However not long after that on May 18, Malaysian Red Crescent officials came and
then Malaysian journalists also arrived and this brought some cheer to us," he said.
"We were always escorted whereever we went. We were allowed an occasional bath in the
nearby river. They gave us a toothbrush,toothpaste and rice. We have to cook our own
rice."
"We have to collect firewood -- old coconut shells. Some of us found this amusing.
The coconut shells were light and so we were able collect many and carry them," said
Basilius smiling broadly.
"There was a village store to which we were escorted by the Abu Sayaf. There we were
allowed to get only sardines to go with the rice."
"Most of the time we spent looking for firewood or talking or sleeping."
While in captivity, he said they were able to communicate with their families in Sabah via
satellite phones taken away by the gunmen from three French journalists.
"They allowed us use of the phone to contact our families. I told my family not to
worry and that I will return but do not know when."
Asked whether there was ever the likelihood of Malaysian journalists being taken hostage
like what happened to the French journalists later, Basilius said the feeling in May and
June was that journalists could still come and go back safely.
Among the Malaysian journalists who visited the camp where the hostages were held were
representatives of Bernama, Utusan Malaysia, Berita Harian and the Star.
"Initially the gunmen wanted publicity. They wanted the whole world to know about
them. Once this was achieved they wanted to kidnap the journalists."
"If they ask for your shoes, just give it to them. Even if you say no, they will
still take the pair away."
They also fancied jackets, bags, glasses, watches and dark glasses.
"We tried to pass the message to Malaysians not to bring anything valuable to the
camp. Just wear a pair of slippers," he said.
He said while in the later days of captivity, they came to know of efforts being made to
free them.
"Many of those who came to see us said that we will be freed soon. We waited and
waited but were not freed. I do not know about the feelings of my friends but I did not
believe 100 per cent that I will be freed soon," Basilius said.
Basilius who has returned to his home in Kinarut near here said that his department had
approved a month's leave for him.
"According to my duty schedule I will have to report for duty on Pulau Sipadan this
October."
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