KL on alert for kidnapping

KL on alert for kidnapping

KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has ordered that intelligence gathering along the coastal borders of Sabah and its surrounding islands be stepped up, a news report said Saturday.

Abdullah, who was meeting members of the eastern state's cabinet, said this would be done to prevent the recurrence of the Sipadan incident when a group of foreign tourists was abducted by Moslem rebels from the Philippines, The New Straits Times daily said.

The move follows reports that the Filipino gunmen, who kidnapped 20 people from the Southern Philippine resort island of Palawan last week, are hiding on islands not far from Malaysian waters.

Sabah, which is only a few hours boat ride from southern Philippine islands, have always been plagued by petty crimes committed by illegal immigrants from both the Philippines and Indonesia.

However, up until the kidnapping incident on Sipadan island in April last year, the petty crimes were kept in check by frequent raids and deportation.

"Our security forces had been on alert since the two kidnapping incidents in our own territory last year," Abdullah said.