| ALL HOSTAGES SAFE, SAYS SYED
HAMID
KUALA LUMPUR, April 24
(Bernama) -- All the 20 people taken hostage by armed pirates on Sipadan island off the
Sabah coast last night are safe, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar Monday.
He said this was the information given to Wisma Putra but did not elaborate.
Speaking at a news conference at his ministry here Monday, Syed Hamid said the hostages
include two French nationals, three Germans, two South Africans, two Finns and one
Lebanese, all tourists.
The others are eight Malaysians, who according to Syed Hamid, "happened to be
there" and two Filipino workers.
He said Wisma Putra had informed two foreign missions here whose nationals are involved.
The other missions could not be contacted but they would be informed later, Syed Hamid
said.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said a special team had
been set by the police to rescue the hostages who were taken in boats by the pirates.
Syed Hamid said the names of the hostages would be released by the Malaysian police.
"They are getting help from neighbouring countries to trace the hostages," he
said.
A Reuters report said Monday the gunmen were headed for Philippine waters.
Asked if the government has any information on the armed group, Syed Hamid said: "Let
us complete on the intention of trying to get the safe release (of the hostages).
"I think the authorities are taking the necessary steps to get them released from
their captors."
The minister could not say if the pirates have made any demands.
Syed Hamid said the hostage incident was an "isolated" case and it was safe for
people to visit Sipadan island.
Sipadan island is a popular resort especially among scuba-divers.
News of the attack reached Tawau on Sabah's east coast at about 8pm Sunday night, about an
hour after the pirates struck on the island.
The international waters bordering Sabah, Southern Philippines and Eastern Indonesia are
pirate-infested with several incidents reported in the last few years.
Meanwhile, the Philippines embassy here said it was preparing details of the hostage
incident upon being informed of it by Malaysian authorities.
The information would be rushed to the Department of the Foreign Affairs in Manila for
further action, in accordance with normal diplomatic procedure, said the embassy, adding
that it also received queries from the Philippine media about the incident.
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