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.