Kidnap: Families launch fund
Published on: Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Tawau: Family members of five kidnap victims at the Dent Heaven waters off Lahad Datu are appealing to the Government and public to help them raise funds so that they can come up with the ransom demand of RM2 million for the release of the victims.They have launched a fund with its theme "Mereka Diseksa, Kami Sengsara, Bantulah Kami" (They are tortured, We Suffer, Help Us) to save the victims who were abducted by kidnappers believed from the Abu Sayyaf group three months ago.A spokesperson for the families, Gustiah Sultan, 46, said so far the public had donated about RM3,670 and that the period given by the kidnappers for the ransom money has ended.
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"What really worries us more is that one of the victims identified as Abdul Rahim Summas, 62, has been separated from a group and he has been moved to another place which we do not know. "Now, four victims remain in the group namely Gustiah's husband, Tayudin Anjut, 45, Mohd Ridzuan Ismail, 32, Mohammad Jumadil Rahim, 23, and Fandy Bakran, 26 and all including the fifth victim were kidnapped on July 17," she said."The last contact I had with the kidnappers was on Oct. 12 at 4.10pm when they demanded for a ransom of RM2 million to be paid in four days. "However, we pleaded to them to be given more time as we have yet to come up with such amount.
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Hence, on behalf of the five families, we are appealing to the public to help us to save our families. "Those who wish to do so can bank in their donations to RHB Bank Account 11003700272503 under my name, Gustiah Sultan and I can be contacted at 019-8076279," she said.
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According to Gustiah, the families are using only one bank account for the fund as they fear that there will be quarters that may take advantage of their predicament."Our daily routines have not been the same since the five who are our breadwinners were kidnapped."But at the same time, we are grateful that the employers of our husbands are still paying their salaries so that we can raise our families and meet our necessities."What we want is for our husbands to be released by the kidnappers and return home to us," she said.Gustiah said they have asked for help from political leaders. So far, she said, only Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan has given his full support to them apart from a visit from Tanjung Batu Assemblywoman Datuk Hamisa Samat.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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