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NEGOTIATIONS IN SECURING SIPADAN CAPTIVES' RELEASE KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 (Bernama) --
Malaysia has always given priority to negotiations in efforts to secure the release of the
21 people abducted by gunmen from Sipadan Island on April 23, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk
Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said on thursday.
Abdullah, who is also the Home Minister, said the use of force to free captives could
sometimes aggravate the situation.
"I hope our minister and deputy minister will present Malaysia's views (to the
Philippine government) on matters pertaining to the abduction," he told reporters
after launching a book at the Institute of Islamic Understanding, Malaysia (Ikim).
Abdullah was asked if Kuala Lumpur was agreeable to a military solution or preferred the
negotiation approach in trying to secure the release of the 10 Malaysians and 11
foreigners who are currently held in southern Philippines.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Pandikar Amin Mulia and Deputy Defence
Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal left for the Philippines on Tuesday to monitor the efforts to
free the captives.
Pandikan Amin, who went there as the prime minister's special envoy, met Philippine
President Joseph Estrada yesterday and was given the assurance that the efforts taken were
peaceful and in the form of negotiations.
Abdullah said Malaysia wants to cooperate with the Philippines in securing the captives'
release and does not wish to create difficulties.
"We know that the Philippines too faces pressures and problems. It is not an easy
matter to handle this issue," he said.
Abdullah said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Norian Mai, who is scheduled to return
home from Manila later on thursday, is expected to brief him on the latest situation.
"I hope to meet him to get information from his own mouth," he added.
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