AFP file pix Philippine policemen escort two freed Malaysian seaweed farmers (white shirts) in Quezon City
By Charlie Rudai
KOTA KINABALU: Tears of happiness flowed freely at the Terminal Two arrival hall in Tanjung Aru on Friday the moment seaweed farm manager, Tsen Vui Chung, 42, and supervisor, Lai Wing Chau, 33, were finally reunited with their family members after 10 months and 12 days in captivity.
Family members of the two could not hide their joy and excitement and rushed to meet them as they walked into the arrival hall shortly after the Cebu Pacific Aircom plane ferrying them from Manila touched down at about 5.50pm here.
Tsen’s wife, Chua Mui Ling, 41, together with their children Tsen Hien June, 11 and Tsen Joe Yi, 13 rushed out to hug him while the bachelor, Lai was greeted by his happy parents and other family members.
Tsen’s son, Hien June was seen clinging to him the whole time as they sat to answer questions from journalists at a press conference.
The duo, who now hold the dubious distinction of being the longest serving Malaysian hostages, were abducted by a group of gunmen at the seaweed farm on Pulau Sebangkat off Semporna on Feb 8 this year. Their release was secured on Dec 21.
According to Tsen, they were trussed up by the gunmen before being taken to an island believed to be in the Southern Philippines as the journey took almost 10 hours.
On arriving, he said they were at loss because the abductors did not tell them what they wanted and only asked for their family telephone numbers.
He said all their conversations with their abductors were in Malay.
Shifted about 100 times
Tsen confirmed initial reports that the kidnappers ferried them from one place to another in the bid to evade detection.
“We were shifted from one place to another at least about 100 times.”
Commenting briefly about their ordeal, he said that they were given food only intermittently.
The gunmen also gave no indication that they were seeking a ransom for their release, he said.
However, according to sources, a ransom was paid for their release to be made just before Christmas.
Philippines police officials said that police commandos who had been searching for the captives, recovered the two near Bongao town in the southernmost island province of Tawi-Tawi.
The gunmen, they said, had abandoned the duo after they were surrounded by government forces but managed to escape the police dragnet.
Tsen declined to speculate if he would return to their work on Pulau Sebangkat: “I will have to discuss with my family first,” was all he would say when asked by a reporter.
“I actually have not thought about it … I have to take a break first and think about it,” said his cousin Lai.
Accompanying them from Manila was Malaysia Ambassador to the Philippines, Ibrahim Saad while welcoming them from the state government side were deputy chief minister Peter Pang and Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Nasir Sakaran.
Security beefed up
Meanwhile the state government views the Semporna seaweed farm workers’ abduction incident seriously and has directed the security forces to take measures to beef up security.
“Such crime must be vehemently stopped. I also call upon those doing commercial activities along waters in Sabah to quickly report to the authorities if they have information or see something suspicious,” said Chief Minister Musa Aman.
He said this in a press statement that was read out by Pang.
“On behalf of the state government and the whole people of Sabah and Malaysia, we welcome them back after experiencing the terrible ordeal for 10 months and 12 days,” he said.
The two men were rescued due to collaboration between the Philippine National Police and Malaysian Royal Police in Tawi-Tawi Island on Dec 21.
“I would like to record my sincere thanks to the police, especially Sabah police. I hope such co-operation will continue and further improved between the two country’s law enforcement agencies,” he said.
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