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Request The Government To Come Out With The Truth About The 21-Hostage Incident Statement by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong on the abduction of 21 foreign tourists and Malaysians at the Sipadan scuba haven since 24.4.2000. 26 April 2000. | |||||||
| It is the third day of the kidnapping incident at Sipadan, an international scuba-diving haven 32 Km from Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia. The number held is said to be 21, 12 foreign tourists and nine Malaysians, not 20 as originally believed. What is the actual number? There are speculations: Abu Sayyaf rebels from southern Philippines are responsible for the incident? Abu Sayyaf is one of the Islamic separatist groups. Since 23 April 2000, Philippines army has attacked the rebel stronghold in southern Basilan island, Philippines, to free 27 hostages held there for a month. A political motive? Are the gunmen pirates? As the episode unfolds, there will be more speculations to fill up pages of the daily newspapers, Internet and magazines. Readers want news. Defence Minister Dato' Seri Najib said the Government found the exact location where the hostages were being held. The Philippines Defence Secretary Orlando Mercado said the gunmen were believed to be heading for either Sulu or Zamboanga, where there were | |
many Tausogs? There is a report that the gunmen have demanded a ransum. Is it a reliable source? The Foreign Ministry has set up an action committee, working round the clock to solve the hostage incident. The Minister Dato' Seri Syed Hamid Albar stressed that the priority was to get the safe release of everyone. The Prime Minister Dato' Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad is not blaming anybody at this stage and is only making a decision after a full enquiry. He admitted that the Government had reduced expenditure on the patrol of our waters because of the economic crisis in the past 34 months. Surveillance is being stepped up. What is the truth? Who are the marauders? How many of them? Where have they taken the hostages? Why? How can these hostages be rescued immediately? The Malaysian Government is believed to inform all foreign embassies against issuing statement on the incident. Needless to say, statements by Malaysians can scarcely see the light of day.
Dr Tan Seng Giaw | |||||
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