SHAH ALAM, 2 June: The Malaysian Government allegedly paid a ransom of about RM30 million for the release of a Chinese tourist kidnapped in Semporna, Sabah, two months ago.
Fz.com revealed this allegation in a report today after receiving information from a source that informed them of the matter.
It wrote that the payment of the RM30 million ransom was paid to Abu Sayyaf for the release, which coincides with a visit by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib, to China recently.
The media report said that the kidnappers demanded a ransom of 500 million pesos (RM36.5 million) for the release.
According to fz.com, the Minister of Defence, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, has yet to give any comment when contacted for clarification on the allegations.
The founder of Malaysian Youth Solidarity (SAMM), Badrul Hisham Shaharin, in his Twitter, questioned the move by the Malaysian Government in the payment of ransom to the kidnappers.
“On the day of the release, Najib proudly said that Malaysia is able to negotiate and is respected.
“Now the question is whether the country was right in bringing criminals to negotiate and paying the money. Najib is weak,” Badrul Hisham wrote.
Earlier, Najib Razak announced that no ransom was paid for the release of a woman, a Chinese citizen, and a Filipino woman kidnapped from Singamata Adventures Reef and Resort in Semporna, Sabah, early in April.
“I’ve just been briefed by the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) that the two women, kidnapped from a resort in Sabah last April, have been rescued by our authorities.
“No ransom was paid for their release,” said Najib on Twitter on Saturday.
On April 2, a group of seven gunmen kidnapped a Chinese tourist, Gao Hua Yuan, 29, from Shanghai, and a Filipino, Marce Dayawan, 40, who worked at Singamata Adventures and Reef Resort, at about 10.30pm.
