The kidnap-for-ransom group have told the families of fishermen to seek help to raise the RM2 million ransom demanded if they value their loved ones.

“Kalau sayang keluarga kamu, carilah orang tolong (If you love your family, look for people to help),” Gustiah Sultan, whose husband Tayudin Anjut is one of those still held by the Abu Sayyaf gang, related the message she received from the kidnappers to the Democratic Action Party (DAP) leaders when they visited the families on Saturday.

She also told the visitors that the five victims that were separated by the Abu Sayyaf gang have been grouped back together.

Abdul Rahim Summas, 62, Tayudin Anjut, 45, Mohd Ridzuan Ismail, 32, Fandy Bakran, 26 and Mohd Jumadil Rahim, 23 were kidnapped on July 18 in the waters off Dent Haven, Lahad Datu.

“We have only managed to collect (from donations) RM130,000 at the moment and have pleaded to the kidnappers that is all we have managed to collect, but the kidnappers want RM2 million for all five to be released,” she told the DAP and Parti Keadilan members at her home in Tanjung Batu.

The families used Gustiah binti Sultan’s RHB bank account no. 11003700272503, to raise the ransom money, but hopes to collect the amount demanded at a short time seems impossible.

According to her, the kidnappers also told them to look for a middleman, which the family took as a sign that the kidnappers were willing to accept the money collected so far for the release. Unfortunately, it was not to be.

She said even though the amount was reduced from RM8.5 million to RM2 million, it is an impossible task for them to collect such amount as they are not rich and are only employed.

Moreover, she said the bread winners of the families are the ones being held and it is a tremendous pressure to the wives and children to look for the big amount of money.

Meanwhile, DAP member of parliament Lim Kit Siang who visited the victims’ family members, said he would bring up the matter to the government and for national attention in order to get the victims safely released.

Sri Tanjong assemblyman Chan Foong Hin donated RM2,000 on behalf of the party.

Also present during the visit were DAP Sabah chairman Stephen Wong, Kota Kinabalu member of parliament Jimmy Wong, DAP Tawau socialist youth chief Vincent Fung, Parti Keadilan (PKR) Kalabakan advisor Dr Badrolamin Bahrom and Parti Keadilan Kalabakan Youth chief Asis Bakri. 

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by Alen Kee

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