Najib meets three victims of kidnapping by Abu Sayyaf militants

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak this morning spent time to meet three kidnapping victims who were recently released after being detained by the Abu Sayyaf militant group last July.

Najib spent about half-an-hour with the three victims who were accompanied by their family members at the prime minister's residence, here at about 8.15 this morning.

The three Malaysian nationals - Jumadil Rahim, 24; Mohd Ridzuan Ismail, 33, and Fandy Bakran, 27, - were rescued by the Philippine security forces in an operation in the Punay (Publicion) General Estino general area, the Philippines at 11.30pm on Sunday.

Also present was the president of Kelab Putera 1Malaysia, Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Rahim who also joined in the conversation, recalling the unfortunate kidnapping incident while having breakfast.

The reunion of the three victims, who were fishermen, with their family members earlier was a picture of sadness.

All the family members could not keep their emotion in check when they hugged the victims tightly after more than eight months of detention by the terrorists.

The Foreign Ministry had earlier confirmed that the three Malaysians who were abducted had been rescued by the Sulu Joint Task Force during an operation called Full Force Military Operations in Sulu on March 26.

The three victims arrived at the KL International Airport (KLIA) yesterday at about 8pm.

It was reported on March 27 that Najib and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor had met and heard for themselves the stories that two other fishermen who were also kidnapped; Tayudin Anjut, 46, and Abdul Rahim Summas, 63, and treated as slaves and forced to cook for the terrorist group besides being given remnants of the food to be shared, and drinking salty water. -- Bernama