| A perfect anniversary gift for Siti
By Colin Forsythe and Eddie Angat
KOTA KINABALU: What
could be a better gift for their 10th wedding anniversary this coming Tuesday.
For
Siti Samsuddin, having her husband Mohamed Noor Sulaiman, 43, by her side on this special
occasion is something she will surely cherish for a long, long time.
After all
that uncertainty and anxiety about her hubby's safety and welfare, - who was among three
Malaysians kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf guerillas more than a month ago - Siti can now look
forward to that auspicious occasion with her loved one.
After 46
days' captivity in the southern Philippines Mohamed Noor, the resort manager of Semporna
Pandanan Island Resort has been released, along with the other two Malaysians.
Mohamed Noor,
Joe Joseph Ongkinoh, a 40 year-old divemaster; and contractor Kan Wei Chong, 35, were
seized September 10 by Abu Sayyaf rebels from the diving resort island of Pandanan off
Sabah.
Philippine
troops who stormed a rebel strong hold in Jolo island early Wednesday later recovered the
three unhurt.
Siti, and
Nancy Nair, the wife of Joe, when contracted by New Sabah Times yesterday, said their
prayers had been answered.
Siti, in a
telephone interview from Kota Belud said: "I'm very, very happy with the news. It is
a big relief to all of us in the familu. We are grateful to almighty God that he is safe
and unhurt."
Siti, known
as Pakiah Laksmi befor eshe converted to Islam, said her husbah's return would be the
best-ever present for their 10th wedding anniversary on October 31.
"We'll
have a very big celebration," she said, thanking all those involved in his release.
She said the
Malaysian embassy in Manila told her the good news at about 2:20 pm yesterday.
"An
embassy official who gave his name as Bala, called me and said that my husband and the
other two Malaysians had been freed and are now in Zamboanga," a delighted Siti said.
"I am
very, very happy with the news. It is a big relief to all of us in the familuy. We are
grateful to almighty God that he is safe and unhurt.
"We want
to thank everyone who has been involved in securing his release; many people have been
very helpful all this while".
"Our
prayers have been answered and having waited patiently and anxiously all this while, i am
excited that Joe will be home any time now," said Nancy when met at her Kg Nossob
house in the evening.
For Nancy her
husband's abduction was the second she had to bear. Her brother, wildlife ranger
Balakrishnan Nair, was seized from Sipadan island near Pandanan in April and held for
weeks before being freed.
Nancy, a
beautician, siad she will b e taking leave to be with her husband.
"At the
moment, i am happy with the news (of his release), but i will be happier still when i see
him," said Nancy at her Penampang home on the outskirts of Kota Kiabalu.
She said that
Joe's aging mother, Madam Muli Matanjang was also delighted with the news of her son's
release. "My mother in law often asks about Joe and when she would get to see him
again".
"And
coincidentally, it was mun-inlaw who eceived the phone call form Manila at about 2:30 pm
saying that Joe and the rest ha dbeen released," added Nancy.
The house was
a hive of activity with relatives gathering there on hearing the good news
it is not
clear when the three, who were taken from Jolo to the southern Philippine city of
Zamboanga, would fly home. They wer unhurt apart form bruises.
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