KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) view the recent kidnapping of five Indonesians within Sabah waters very seriously. “The MAF views the incident, which occurred within Tambisan (Sabah) waters seriously. The five were believed to have been taken to southern Philippines by a group linked to Abu Sayyaf, ” it said in a statement on Thursday (Jan 23). On Jan 16, five Indonesian fishermen were abducted from the eastern edge of Sabah waters off Lahad Datu by a kidnap-for-ransom group linked to the notorious Abu Sayyaf from southern Philippines. On Jan 18, Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) commander Datuk Hazani Ghazali said that they had communicated with their counterparts in southern Philippines and are carrying out follow-up operations in the area.

Source: The Star January 23, 2020 07:18 UTC