Police give assurance on Sabah's safety

The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) have been carrying out close surveillance over Sabah's waters following the kidnap of two Malaysians in Sandakan on May 14.

In this regard, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar gave an assurance that the safety of the people in Sabah is intact.

He also said the search for the victims was ongoing.

"I wish to assure the families of the victims and the people in Sabah that the police are doing their best.

"The police have sent a team to the Philippines to negotiate with the parties for the victims' release," he told reporters after participating in a four-corner bowling championship at the Summit, Subang Jaya here, today.

On May 14, a woman Thien Nyuk Fun, 50, and a man, Bernard Then Ted Fen, 39, were kidnapped by four armed men who stormed the Ocean King Restaurant in Sandakan at 7.45 pm.

Both are believed to be held in the interior of Southern Philippines bordering Sabah.

Meanwhile, Khalid said PDRM would assist Thai police in tracking down the main suspect in the bombing incident in Bangkok, who might be in Malaysia.

On Aug 17, a bomb attack at the Erawan Temple in Bangkok killed 20 people including five Malaysians and injured 130 people.

On Sept 28, Thai police revealed the identity of the man suspected of being responsible for the bombing.

In another development, Khalid, when asked to comment on the delay in finding the seven Orang Asli children who went missing on Aug 23, said police would look at the operation approaches taken.

"We will review to determine what had been overlooked during the early search but as I have said from the beginning, we had never stopped efforts to find them," he said.

In the incident on Aug 23, the six girls and a boy, aged seven to eleven, from SK Tohoi, escaped from their school hostel, fearing they would be punished by their teacher for bathing in the river without permission.

Two of them, Miksudiar Alui, 11, and Norieen Yaakob, 10, were found safe Friday while Sasa Sobrie, 8, and Ika Ayel, 9, were confirmed to have died.

Three others who have yet to be found or identified, are Juvina David, seven; Linda Rosli and Haikal Yaakob, both eight.