Families of kidnapped sailors losing hope of safe return

KOTA KINABALU: The families of five Malaysian sailors being held hostage by Abu Sayyaf gunmen since July are losing hope of seeing their loved ones again.

Hariyanti Hamsih, 31, whose husband Mohd Ridzuan Ismail is among those held in the southern Philippine island of Jolo, said the families were in no position to meet the ransom demands.