No Abu Sayyaf presence in RI, Malaysia

No Abu Sayyaf presence in RI, Malaysia

JAKARTA: A Malaysian minister denied on Monday reports by the Philippine government that members of the Abu Sayyaf separatist group had infiltrated Malaysia and Indonesia.

"It's not true that Abu Sayyaf members have entered Malaysia and Indonesia, as both countries would certainly prevent the entrance of wanted individuals from ASEAN," said Malaysia's tourism minister Dato' Abdul Kadir bin Hj. Sheik Fadzir, adding that Malaysia was patrolling its waters tightly.

Abu Sayyaf fighters have often slipped into Malaysia and kidnapped foreign tourists to hold them for ransom

The Philippines is at war against the Abu Sayyaf group, which is fighting for a Muslim state in the southern part of the country. -- Antara