‘P136M raised by hostage victims’ families given to PH groups’
Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. AFP PHOTO
PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia—The money raised by the families of the four Sarawakian sailors has been channeled to certain organizations in the Philippines, revealed Malaysian deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“Rest assured that police are not keeping the money. It has been sent to the Philippines as contribution.
“The money given was not used to pay ransom. This is because the Government has decided that there should be no ransom paid and we do not heed demands for ransom,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.
Without naming the beneficiaries, Dr .Ahmad Zahid said the organizations were legal and so were their activities.
“I can confirm the RM12mil (P136 million) that was handed over to the Special Branch by the families was given as a form of contribution to certain organizations in the Philippines,” he told reporters at the launch of the national Quran wakaf (donation) campaign at the Home Ministry yesterday.
Pressed further, Dr. Ahmad Zahid reiterated that no terror nor militant groups had their hand on the money.
The RM12mil was given to the organizations “to assist in their struggle that is in accordance with the law and Islamic principles”.
The families of the four men who were taken hostage by Abu Sayyaf militants had sought donations to secure their release and after raising RM12mil, they handed the money to the Special Branch in Sandakan on May 24.
It was reported that RM9mil was raised through donations by individuals; RM1mil came from the mortgage made on properties and RM2mil came from the shipping company in which the four men worked.
However, the families came under pressure over where the donations they collected have gone when police said that no ransom was paid to the kidnappers.
The four Sarawakians – kidnapped on April 1 – were released on June 7 after long-drawn negotiations with the militants led by sub-commander Apo Mike.
The two brothers Wong Teck Kang, 31, and Teck Chii, 29, their cousin Johnny, 21, and Wong Hung Sing, 34, who is not related to them were crew members of a tugboat.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ahmad Zahid said that only 7.6 percent of former convicts land themselves in jail again, thanks to the correctional and rehabilitation works carried out by the Prisons Department.
“Since a large percentage, or more than 70% of prison inmates are Muslims, among the correctional approach taken is to use religion and the Quran to educate and correct their ways.
“So far, it has shown positive results and our percentage of repeat offenders is the lowest in Asia,” he said. IDL/rga
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