DISAPPOINTMENT
TURNS INTO JOY WITH RELEASE OF ANOTHER FOUR MALAYSIANSKOTA KINABALU,
July 21 (Bernama) -- The dissapointment felt by the families of four Malaysian hostages
held by the Jolo gunmen in southern Philippines,two days, ago turned into joy with news of
their release Friday.
Stephanie Soimbin, 25, wife of Sabah Wildlife Department game ranger Baln Krishnan Nair,
34, hoped that the news of his release this time was true.
"The other day, I was really disappointed as my husband has yet to be released
despite reports from there (Jolo) saying that all hostages had beenreleased," she
said when contacted at her residence in Putatan near here.
Meanwhile Nelen Jaikim, 31, wife of Francis Masangkim, 35, another game ranger, also
expressed her joy upon learning the news of her husband's release.
When met at her house in Tawau, she initially declined to express her reaction on fears
that she would be disappointed again.
However when told that the news of the release had been confirmed by the Malaysian
authorities, Nelen said she hoped the news would no longer disappoint her.
Efforts to contact her again after news that the four Malaysians released would arrive in
Kota Kinabalu later today failed as she was said to have taken a flight here from Tawau.
Malaysian ambassador in Manila Mohamed Arshad M Hussain confirmed that Sabah Wildlife
Department rangers Francis Masangkim, 35 and Baln Krishnan Nair, 34, dive master Fong Yin
Ken, 26 and assistant cook, Lee Hock Leong, 2, held by armed abductors in Jolo in southern
Philippines since April 23 had been released early today.
With their release the gunmen are still holding three Malaysians, two Germans, two South
Africans, two Finns, two French nationals, two Filipinos and a Lebanese.
The gunmen earlier released two Malaysians namely ranger Zulkarnian Hashim, 29, on June 23
and police Lance Corporal Abdul Jawah Salawat on July 14 and German hostage Renate
Wallert, 56, on July 17.
The three Malaysians still being held in Jolo are cook Kua Yu Loong, ranger Basilius Jim
and Pulau Sipadan worker Vincent Kwong.
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