| Tears of joy
flow as 3 hostages go home After being released by the Abu Sayyaf rebels,
the Malaysians say they are glad to be free and will spend time with their families before
starting work
KOTA KINABALU -- Finally safe
back home, the three freed Malaysians rebels recounted their fears and hardships while
being held hostage by Abu Sayyaf rebels and their relief at being back with their
families.
""Our greatest fear
at that moment was the proposed military rescue operation... it nearly cost us our
lives,'' said Mr Fong Yin Ken, one of the three Malaysians who were kept captive in Jolo
for four months.
Mr Fong, 28, a diver, cook Kua
Yu Loong, 24 and ranger Basilius Jim, 31, were flown in on a Malaysian government aircraft
piloted by Mr Fong's father James Fong.
Tears of joy flowed freely as
the three disembarked and were hugged and kissed by waiting relatives and friends.
Several others waiting outside
the airport terminal carried placards welcoming the three home and thanking the Malaysian
government for securing their release.
""We are glad our
prayers have finally been answered. We have been praying very hard at home and at the
church,'' said Madam Chung Shuk Moi, Mr Fong's mother.
Speaking for the group, Mr Fong
told a news conference the hostages had been treated well but at times faced shortages of
food and clean drinking water.
After being kidnapped on Easter
Sunday 17 weeks ago, the hostages lived mostly on boiled rice and a scrap or two of fish
each day, and had only rain water to drink.
Some had been bitten by
scorpions, and most were exhausted and depressed, he said.
When they first arrived in Jolo
town yesterday, the freed Malaysians were taken to the home of provincial governor
Abdusakur Tan and feasted on a lunch of fried fish, fried chicken and mangoes.
""It's good, the food
is good,'' said Mr Fong, as he tucked into the food with gusto.
He said that throughout their
ordeal they had never lost hope of being freed and were buoyed in this belief through the
continuous efforts of the Malaysian and Philippine governments.
""We know that the
day will come for us to be freed,'' he said, adding that he was contemplating returning to
Pulau Sipadan and starting work ""as I have been on leave long enough and
perhaps my boss wants me to return''.
He said the Caucasian hostages
""were doing fine''.
Mr Basilius and Mr Kua also
expressed their joy at being home.
They said they would spend some
time with their families before returning to work. --Reuters, AFP, Bernama
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