Five Malaysian sailors believed kidnapped by south Philippines gunmen

LAHAD DATU: Five Malaysian sailors are feared kidnapped by southern Philippines gunmen following the recovery of an abandoned tugboat they were on at Dent Heaven Bay, east of Sabah on Monday.
Sabah Commissioner of Police Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun said today police have not discounted the possibility of the four Sabahans and another sailor from Pahang being kidnapped.
The five are Tawau residents boat skipper Abd Rahim Summas, 62, from Kampung Tanjung Batu; his crew Tayudin Anjut, 45, from Kampung Tanjung Batu Darat; Fandy Bakran, 26, from Kampung Pukat and Mohamad Jumadil Rahim, 23, from Batu 2 Jalan Apas; and Mohd Ridzuan Ismail, 32, from Felda Jengka 7, Bandar Jengka, Pahang.
Abdul Rashid said the tugboat is owned by a Tawau-based Malaysian company. "We are not sure about their whereabouts but we have not discounted the kidnapping although there is yet to be a ransom demand from any party," he said today.
"All five crew are not contactable. We hope anyone with information about the missing sailors will come forward and assist us in our search for them."
Meanwhile, speaking to the media in New Delhi, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi believes kidnap-for-ransom groups based in southern Philippines are behind the latest abductions in Sabah waters.
"So far, no ransom demand has been received from any quarter but I believe the latest abductions were masterminded by the same groups involved in the series of kidnappings of Malaysians and foreign tourists since a few years ago," he said.
Ahmad Zahid arrived in New Delhi on Sunday for a three-day working visit to India.
Abdul Rashid said on Sunday, crew of the tugboat, Serudong 3 had towed a barge, Serudong 4, from Sandakan and was to arrive at Semporna at 5pm on Tuesday.
However, he said on Tuesday at 2pm, the crew of another tugboat, Tug 9, that was sailing from Kinatabangan to Tawau spotted both Serudong 3 and Serudong 4 abandoned half way into its journey close to the shores of Dent Heaven Bay.
He said when the tugboat crew found the engines of Serudong 3 running but none of the sailors in sight, they became suspicious and telephoned the owners of the affected vessels.
The crew related what they had witnessed before resuming their journey.
Police were notified and within 30 minutes two marine police boats were despatched to investigate.
Abdul Rashid said apart from the missing crew, police also found the navigator's compass missing from Serudong 3.
"We hope in future, those operating sea vessels along the coast will notify Esscom of the movement of their boats. By doing this, we can monitor and be aware of activities in the areas. This is not to provide escort services but to keep our lookout focused at where it really matters," he said.
Just 10 days ago, a gang of south Philippines gunmen pulled off yet another abduction at sea late on Saturday, snatching three Indonesian fishermen after ambushing trawler vessel owned by a Malaysian fishing company off the coast of Felda Sahabat here.
Last month, four Sarawakian sailors of a tugboat – brothers Wong Teck Pang, 31, and Wong Teck Chi, 29, their cousin, Johnny Lau Jung Hien, 21, and a fourth sailor Wong Hung Sing, 34, – were released on June 8 after being kidnapped at sea by gunmen on April 1.