The murder of Malaysian hostage Bernard Then by the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers has shown how national security in Sabah has failed.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the kidnap and murder of Then also showed the failure of the Malaysian authorities to ensure his safe return.
“It is a shame that Sabahans, especially those in Sandakan, no longer feel safe in their own country,” Lim said in a statement today.
Expressing his party’s condolences to Then’s family, Lim admitted that no words could console his family of their irreplaceable loss.
“DAP hopes that Then's tragic sacrifice will not be in vain by ensuring that there will be no more kidnaps and murders of innocent Malaysians by the Abu Sayyaf militants,” he said.
Then was beheaded
Foreign media reported that the remaining Malaysian hostage was beheaded after negotations with the southern Philippines militant group by Philippines and Malaysian negotiators fell through.
Then was killed in the Abu Sayyaf stronghold of Jolo, hours after Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak touched down in Manila, Philippines, for the two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference there.
It was reported that the militant group killed Then after it failed to secure a ransom.
However, Malaysian police said it is still trying to ascertain the fate of the hostage.
The beheading came just after a week after Abu Sayyaf released another Malaysian hostage, Thien Nyuk Fun, the manager of Ocean King Seafood Restaurant, who was kidnapped along with Then.
Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi denied reports that Thien was freed after a ransom of 30 million pesos (RM7.85 million) was paid.
Related reports
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