Four abducted Malaysians still alive

The four Malaysians abducted by gunmen near the waters off Pulau Ligitan, Sabah early this month are still alive, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said.

The Inspector-General of Police, however, could not disclose any information on the release of the hostages but only said that negotiations with the Philippine authorities were still ongoing.

"I won't reveal at what stage we're at in the negotiations and what we're doing for fear that it can cause problems for the hostages," he told reporters today.

The abducted men, aged between 21 and 34, were among nine tugboat crew who were on their way back to Malaysia from the Philippines.

They are Wong Teck Kang, 31; Wong Hung Sing, 34; Wong Teck Chii, 29, and Johnny Lau Jung Hien, 21.

Earlier, Foreign Affairs Ministry said they have called the Philippines Ambassador to Malaysia, Jose Eduardo E. Malaya to reinstate the country's application in seeking the Philippine government's assistance in the efforts to free the victims.