S'wak, women's groups offer aid to the family
Published on: Thursday, November 19, 2015
Kuching: Sarawak will reach out to the family of electrical engineer Bernard Then, 39, from here who was reportedly killed by the Abu Sayyaf terror group in the Philippines a few days ago.Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem said Wednesday the State Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah would be visiting the family soon.He described the incident as tragic, when speaking to the media after officiating at this year's State-level Civil Service Day celebration at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), here.
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He warned Sarawakians to be extra careful when visiting certain areas in neighbouring Sabah.The Singapore Straits Times on its online news at www.straitstimes.com reported that "Brigadier-General Alan Arrojado, commander of the Joint Task Group Sulu, said Bernard Then was beheaded at around 4pm at a remote Abu Sayyaf stronghold in Jolo island in Sulu province, some 1,400km south of the capital Manila".He was kidnapped from a seafood restaurant in Sandakan in May this year together with another victim Thien Nyuk Fu, 50.But she was recently released.
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Meanwhile, the Sarawak government and several women's advocacy groups condemned Wednesday the Abu Sayyaf who reportedly beheaded their Sarawakian hostage Bernard Then on Tuesday. The State and women groups also rallied around the family of the slain 39-year-old from Kuching, offering to provide counselling following the horrific killing.
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"We are united in our sorrow at the news of the alleged killing of fellow Sarawakian engineer Bernard Then. We stand solidly against any form of crimes," Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, State Minister for Welfare, Women and Family Development told a news conference here. "The killing of Then is a sad example of what will happen if extremism is allowed to have a foothold. We must never allow this to happen in Sarawak or in Malaysia." She denounced the beheading as a terrorist act, and made it clear that Muslims should not be held accountable even if the Abu Sayyaf purported itself a militant Muslim outfit. "No religion condones such acts of terrorism, even it if is done in the name of religion," Fatimah added at the news conference that was also attended by the State Barisan Nasional (BN) political women's wings and other women's advocacy groups. She said the State and the women groups offer their sincere condolences to the family of the deceased and would refrain from visiting for the time being to accord them some privacy. Fatimah said the State would be willing to provide counselling services to the family once they are ready and willing. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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