Kota Kinabalu: The two Malaysian seamen found by a Philippine Navy patrol boat, eight months after they were kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf gunmen, are expected to arrive in Kuala Lumpur today (March 26). "They are still in the Philippines and are expected to be in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow," said State Police Commissioner Datuk Ramli Din Saturday. He said their families have also been informed.
It was recently reported that Tayudin Anjut, 45, and skipper Abdul Rahim Summas, 62, were abandoned by the gunmen before dawn near their coastal forest hideout on the remote island of Pata.
The duo were abducted along with three other crewmen of the Serudong 3 tugboat which was heading to Semporna from Sandakan last July 18.
News of the remaining three, Fandy Bakran, 26, Mohamad Jumadil Rahim, 23, and Mohd Ridzuan Ismail, 32, from Felda Jengka 7, Pahang, has yet to be ascertained.
Philippines regional military commander Major-General Carlito Galvez was quoted as saying that the kidnap victims (Tayudin and Abdul Rahim) are weak and in a sickly state.
They were said to be receiving treatment at a military hospital in the area for unspecified ailments.
He was quoted as saying that their recovery followed a Philippine military operation against the kidnappers on a nearby island early last month that left eight gunmen dead.
The five are among 10 Malaysians kidnapped in at least 10 kidnapping cases reported in the east coast last year.
The same year also saw nine Indonesians and four Filipinos abducted. The 10 cases involved two tugboats in Semporna and Lahad Datu waters, and eight fishing trawlers in the Lahad Datu, Semporna and Kinabatangan waters.
Nine of those kidnapped have already been released, while one was rescued by security personnel during an exchange of fire exchange which killed three kidnap-for-ransom gunmen and one is still missing.
The three gunmen shot dead by security forces in Lahad Datu were reported to be members of the notorious Abu Sayyaf group, one of whom headed the Samal Island raid that led to the kidnapping of three foreign nationals and a Filipina in September 2015.
Two more Abu Sayyaf bandits were captured in the encounter by Sabah security forces. - Sherell Ann Jeffrey
