Najib praises ESSCom for rescuing Chinese national

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has commended the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) for the rescue a Chinese national after being held hostage for two months in the southern Philippines.

"Well done ESSCom! I am relieved that we managed to secure the safe release of Chinese national Yang Zai Lin who was kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf gunmen," the prime minister said in his Twitter post Friday night.

He said the Malaysian authorities acted on intelligence and no ransom was paid.

Yang, 34, who hailed from Guangzhao, was abducted by five gunmen from the Wonderful Terrace Fish Farm in Pulau Baik, Lahad Datu, Sabah where he worked as a manager at 2.45 am on May 6.

His release was announced by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar yesterday.

Khalid did not give details on the rescue operations, but said investigations would be conducted into the abduction.