Sarawak to extend help to slain Bernard Thien's family

Sarawak will reach out to the family of electrical engineer Bernard Then, 39, from here who was reportedly killed by the Abu Sayyaf terror group in the Philippines.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem said Wednesday the state minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah would visit the family soon.

He described the incident as tragic, when speaking to the media after officiating at this year's state-level Civil Service Day celebration at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching here.

He warned Sarawakians to be extra careful when visiting certain areas in neighbouring Sabah.

The Singapore Straits Times on its online news at www.straitstimes.com reported that "Brigadier-General Alan Arrojado, commander of the Joint Task Group Sulu, said Then was beheaded at around 4pm at a remote Abu Sayyaf stronghold in Jolo island in Sulu province, some 1,400km south of the capital Manila.

He was kidnapped from a seafood restaurant in Sandakan in May this year together with another victim Thien Nyuk Fu , 50. But she was recently released.