| MALAYSIA WANTS
PEACEFUL MEANS TO END HOSTAGE CRISIS KOTA KINABALU, June 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Saturday calls for the
continued use of peaceful means to end the hostage crisis in Zamboanga, Philippines, which
also involves nine of its nationals.
Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal said if the kidnappers resorted to injuring the
hostages, it would not only be a loss to them but also for the whole of southern
Phillipines.
"Negotiations are still the best solution for the crisis and not through force,"
he said after opening the Sabah branch of the Malaysian Ex-Servicemen Association
delegates conference here.
Shafie said this when asked to comment on a statement by a spokesman for the kidnappers
who said in Zamboanga that the safety of the hostages would be compromised if the Filipino
government resorted to a rescue mission.
An AFP report yesterday quoted the spokesman as saying that during an interview with a
radio station there.
Twelve foreign nationals and nine Malaysians were taken hostage from the resort island of
Sipadan by a group of gunmen on April 23.
Negotiations are still going on between the Filipino government and the kidnappers for the
release of the hostages.
Shafie hoped all parties would take the neccessary steps to ensure the safety of the
hostages.
On the possibility of more Filipinos entering Sabah illegally, he said a special committee
had been set up to prevent the influx.
"More frequent patrols will be held in our waters," he said.
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