Gunmen strike off Sabah again, two fishermen kidnapped

KOTA KINABALU: Kidnap for ransom groups have once again struck in Sabah’s east coast with the abduction of two Indonesian fishermen near Lahad Datu on Saturday. 

The two fishermen aged 36 and 43 were abducted from their vessel at Merabung at about 7.30pm, Eastern Sabah Security Commander Datuk Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid said here Sunday.   

He said the fishing vessel with 13 crewmen on board had been in the area for about an hour when it was approached by five masked men armed with long rifles in a speed boat.    

The armed men destroyed the fishing vessel’s radio and demanded cash and handphones from the crewmen before grabbing two of them before fleeing.

Wan Abdul Bari said the remaining crewmen on board the vessel managed to seek help from another fishing boat nearly an hour later.

The crew of the second fishing vessel then immediately notified the Malaysian security forces who had been heightened alert after they received word from their Philippines counterparts who had been pursuing a speedboat near Tawi Tawi near the border with Sabah.

Wan Abdul Bari said they are trying to ascertain if the speedboat involved in the kidnapping had crossed over from Philippines into Malaysian waters.

Indonesia has called for security to be strengthened in Sabah’s east coast where 12 of its nationals, including the two taken on Saturday, have been abducted since April.

Its Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Kuala Lumpur and Manila should work more closely in addressing the cross border criminal groups operating in the area.