| LEAD: ARMED PIRATES TAKE
HOSTAGES ON SIPADAN ISLAND
KUALA LUMPUR, April 24
(Bernama) -- Six pirates, armed with AK47 assault machine guns and a bazooka launcher,
took nine Malaysians and 11 foreigners hostage on Sipadan island off the Sabah coast
Sunday night.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Norian Mai said the kidnappers, believed to be
foreigners, fled with the hostages in a 'jongkong' boat belonging to them and another boat
seized from the resort centre, towards Philippine waters.
Police could not yet confirm the motive for the abduction as the pirates did not made any
contact or demand up to 4.30pm Monday.
However, politics, ransom and feelings of dissatisfaction were being considered as
possible motives, he told a press conference at the federal police headquarters.
"We seriously feel that politics may be a reason," he said.
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".
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said a special team had been set by
the police to rescue the hostages.
He said Malaysian police were in contact with their counterparts in Southern Philippines
in efforts to track down the pirates.
The international waters bordering Sabah, Southern Philippines and Eastern Indonesia are
pirate-infested with several incidents reported in the last few years.
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.
Police did not release the names of the hostages.
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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