| MALAYSIAN EMBASSY DENIES IT WILL PAY RANSOM TO
SIPADAN KIDNAP GANG MANILA, April 27 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian embassy here today denied news
reports it would negotiate ransom payment to the gunmen who kidnapped 21 people in Sipadan
Island off Sabah last Sunday night.
"That's rubbish. The Malaysian government will not give ransom to anybody or any
group. That's the principle," ambassador Arshad Hussein said.
He was reacting to reports quoting an unnamed Malaysian embassy official as calling a
radio station in Zamboanga city, south of Manila, that the embassy wanted to negotiate and
was willing to pay ransom to the kidnappers.
Philippine authorities had confirmed that the kidnappers brought their 21 captives,
including 10 Malaysians and 11 foreigners, to the predominantly Muslim-populated Sulu
province, 1,000 km south of here.
Arshad said it did not make sense for Malaysia to negotiate with the kidnappers since they
are now on Philippine soil and that the Philippine government had already taken the
initiative to secure the release of the victims.
President Joseph Estrada today gave the mandate to Muslim Mindanao Governor Nur Misuari to
lead the government's negotiation with the abductors and secure the release of the
victims.
Estrada's move followed reports that the kidnappers belonged to the Moro National
Liberation Front which Misuari headed in a bloody separatist war in Mindanao in the early
'70s.
Arshad told Bernama that Malaysia respects Manila's decision to appoint Misuari as
negotiator, adding "we have full trust and confidence in his negotiating
abilities."
Asked what role Malaysia would play now in the kidnapping drama, Arshad said:
"Whatever role the Philippines would like us to play, we will consider."
He said although the kidnapping happened in a Malaysian territory, it would appear now
that Manila would have to take the lead role in the negotiation since both the abductors
and the victims are already in the Philippines.
"This is now a transnational crime. Obviously, the Philippines has to take the lead
role in the negotiations," added Arshad.
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