Philippines to help locate abducted Malaysians

Malaysia today sought the Philippine Government’s help to locate the four Malaysians abducted by gunmen on April 1.

In a statement today, Wisma Putra said Malaysian Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman had spoken to Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Jose Rene Almendras.

According to the statement, Almendras assured Malaysia that the Philippines is taking all the necessary efforts to locate the whereabouts of the four – Wong Teck Kang, 31, Wong Hung Sing, 34, Wong Teck Chii, 29, and Johnny Lau Jung Hien, 21.

READ: Police name four Malaysians abducted in Sabah

He also informed that the Philippine military is conducting an extensive naval blockade operation along the Philippines’ southern coastline in searching for the suspected gunmen.

It was previously reported that the four were abducted by eight armed men off Pulau Ligitan, Sabah while returning to Malaysia from the Philippines between 6pm and 7pm.

The four were among nine crew members working onboard a ship registered as 'Masfive 6' which transported timber from Malaysia to Manila.

The other crew members, comprising Myanmar and Indonesian nationals, had been released by the armed group.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar had previously said police were still investigating if the abduction involved the Abu Sayyaf group.