The Sarawak Chief Minister's Office today confirmed that it has received a call from the Royal Malaysian Police headquarters in Bukit Aman, citing that the four Malaysians who were kidnapped in Sabah waters, last April have been freed.

The matter was disclosed by a source, who in a Borneo Post Online report stated that one of the eight family members of the four hostages, who are now in Sabah, revealed that they were still waiting for news on the four kidnap victims.

The family member, however could not confirm whether the four had been released by the Abu Sayyaf militants, said the report.

The family member has also appealed to the press to avoid spreading unverified information about their release, as it could jeopardise the efforts taken by the authorities in securing their release.

Meanwhile, the portal also reported that Lanang Member of Parliament Alice Lau, who is the cousin to kidnapped Johnny Lau, said the family members have called the Sabah police and were told that they were working on the kidnap situation.

On Wednesday, The Star Online reported that the four Malaysians who were kidnapped by eight armed men in the waters of Semporna, near Ligitan Island on April 1, have been released.

The report said that the four Sarawakian sailors were freed by their captors Abu Sayyaf and have returned to Sandakan, Sabah, early today.

Citing reports from Jolo, it was believed that Malaysian and Filipino negotiators managed to secure the four's release from the militant group after rounds of negotiation.

READ: Four Malaysians kidnapped in Sabah waters freed

READ: Police name four Malaysians abducted in Sabah

The four individuals -- Wong Teck Kang, 31; Wong Hung Sing, 34; Wong Teck Chii, 29; and Johnny Lau Jung Hien, 21 were abducted off Pulau Ligitan while returning to Malaysia from the Philippines.