| NO DEMAND FROM SIPADAN HOSTAGE TAKERS, SAY
POLICE KUALA
LUMPUR, April 26 (Bernama) -- The six armed men who abducted 21 people from Sipadan island
on Sunday night have not contacted the Malaysian authorities to make any demand, including
ransom, police said last night.
"There has been no direct contact between the abductors and the authorities so
far," Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Norian Mai said.
Intelligence reports showed that all the hostages were safe but this could not be
verified, he told reporters at a fund-raising dinner organised by the police here.
Asked whether the pirates and hostages had left Malaysian waters, he said: "There are
no indications that the abductors and hostages are outside Malaysian waters and also no
signs that they are now in southern Philippines."
However, Norian did not rule out the possibility that they could have already fled to
southern Philippines.
In the Sunday raid, six foreigners armed with AK47 assault rifles and a bazooka launcher,
took 11 foreigners and 10 Malaysians hostage from the resort island and escaped in two
boats towards international waters.
Norian said police together with the Armed Forces, Foreign Ministry and other departments
involved in the search and rescue operation for the hostages held a meeting this afternoon
which was chaired by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Abdul Halim Ali.
"The meeting was held to work out measures that need to be taken and the appropriate
considerations for resolving this issue," he said.
"At the meeting, certain instructions were issued to all the departments
involved," he said.
Asked on the motive for the abduction, Norian said: "From information we obtained so
far, we believe the motive relevant to the incident is international politics...no
evidence to show that the motive is more than that."
Norain was also asked on a telephone call reportedly made by the Abu Sayyaf rebel group to
a radio station in southern Philippines.
Norian said: "We know about the radio broadcast which could be monitored in Semporna,
but it was only a telephone call and there is no evidence that the caller is a
representative of Abu Sayyaf."
A foreign news agency report today said The DXRZ radio station in the southern Philippine
city of Zamboanga had received a call from a man who identified himself as Abu Sabaya, a
spokesman for the Abu Sayyaf group.
"We are responsible for the abduction of these foreign nationals. We still have more
surprises for the government if they will continue to ignore our demands," the radio
quoted the caller as saying.
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