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Freedom Fund? Blood money? Ransom? Donation?
Whatever you want to call it, the question remains: Who got what?
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Wan Junaidi, Deputy Home Minister: An EMBARRASSMENT!
MH370 and Sabah kidnappings keep tourists from China away
No ransom, no head? Was Sarawakian engineer Bernard Then beheaded because no ransom was paid?
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Brothers Wong Teck Kang, 31, and Teck Chii, 29, their cousin, Johnny Lau, 21, and the fourth man, Wong Hung Sing, 34, were the crew on a tugboat returning to Sarawak from the Philippines on April 1 when they were waylaid and kidnapped by several gunmen near Pulau Ligitan, Sabah.
The Abu Sayyaf group had reportedly demanded a ransom of RM18 million, and their families turned to members of the public for help.
The four were released on June 8.
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Where is the RM12 million? Surely there can’t be 12 million answers!
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23 June 2016
Even ‘blood money’ not spared from corruption?
Abu Sayyaf received only RM8.8m in ransom?
6th Generation Immigrant: How many sides are there to a Malaysian coin? Only God knows.
Family: We handed RM12 million to the Special Branch and the family did not keep even a single cent they collected. IGP: No ransom was ever paid to secure the release of the kidnapped victims.
DPM: The money was donated to Islamic organisations in the Philippines. IGP: I categorially deny the SB received any of the ransom.
What the DPM meant in his statement was that there was a third party (but Islamic organisations in the Philippines one must guess here) involvement as the police never agrees to deal with and in ransom.
Manila Times: Abu Sayaf only received RM8.8 million in ransom.
So which sides of the coin does our Malaysian leaders fit into. Now, and obviously, we know that ransom was indeed paid but some of the monies were siphoned or leaked in the transaction process.
The DPM and IGP surely must now come out with a joint, better and a more believable crafted, press release to redeem our Malaysian integrity.
Odin Tajué: The lack of forthrightness and of brilliance in many of those in authority in Malaysia have been amply demonstrated in this episode.
What the home minister and the IGP (inspector-general of police) have said is already well known. Perhaps less known is the fact that the deputy home minister has three days ago urged the public and families of the four Sarawakians abducted to douse the spotlight on the RM12 million raised for the release of the foursome.
His reason was that discussion on the money could invite more kidnapping. “When you reveal that such a sum can be raised,” he explained, “about RM3 million for each hostage, then you are encouraging them to go and kidnap again.”
But the foursome was released 11 days before he made that statement. Therefore, the Abu Sayyaf already knew how much was raised for the ransom. Enough said.
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Anonymous_4056: How could legitimate and religiously sanctioned organisations accepted such haram money in the holy month of Ramadan? y they are eternally cursed and condemned for causing tremendous sorrow and pain.
Fair&Just: Taking haram money full of tears (the families pleaded for donations), blood and sweat (savings and loan of hard-earned money) and graciousness (donors’ sincerity abused) and resultant bad evil karma shall be multiplied many times in the holy month of Ramadan.
Roger 5201: If indeed no ransom was paid to Abu Sayyaf as claimed, then the donations meant for Abu Sayyaf should have been returned to the donors.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/346257?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
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21 June 2016
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Malay Mail Online @themmailonline
End debate on RM12m freedom fund, deputy minister tells public
PUTRAJAYA, June 21 ― Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed has urged the public and families of the four Sarawakian hostages to kill the spotlight on the RM12 million raised for their release.
Nur Jazlan said what was most important was the safety of the four men and that they were now back home with their families.
He also cautioned against further discussion on the money, saying this could invite more kidnappings.
“What matters is they have been released. Just leave it at that.
“Do not encourage further kidnappings. When you reveal that such a sum can be raised, about RM3 million for each hostage, then you are encouraging them to go and kidnap again,” he told Malay Mail Online yesterday.
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malaysiakini.com @malaysiakini
DAP lodges MACC report on ransom money
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malaysiakini.com @malaysiakini
We gave RM12m to cops, hostages’ kin insists
The families of four former Abu Sayyaf hostages insist that they gave the RM12 million meant for ransom to the police.
This comes after inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar denied that police had received the money.
“I still maintain what I have earlier said, which is that RM12 million was sent to Sandakan through the bank.
“If the public has any doubts, they can enquire from Hong Leong Bank,” the families’ spokesperson Lau Cheng Kiong was quoted as saying in The Borneo Post.
He declined to comment further on the matter, as the families want to put the matter to rest and move on with their lives.
Lau is the uncle of former hostage Johnny Lau. The others held were Wong Teck Kang, Wong Teck Chii, and Wong Hung Shin.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/346056?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
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19 June 2016
Malay Mail Online
Did they or didn’t they? Sarawak hostage kin zips lips on RM12m ransom money
KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 — The mystery of the RM12 million collected as ransom for four Sarawakians captured by the Abu Sayyaf is unlikely to surface anytime soon now that the hostages have returned home.
A relative of one of the four Sarawakians freed recently has declined to speak further on what happened to the money despite contradictory remarks from Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, urging Malaysians to give the matter a rest.
“I hope the public will not focus on the contradictory statements. I understand it is difficult for some quarters to speak out on the ransom payment because of the international pressures,” Datuk Lau Cheng Kiong, the uncle of Johnny Lau Jung Hien, 21, was quoted as saying by The Sunday Post today.
The Borneo paper reported Cheng Kiong as adding that all that mattered now was that the four have returned home.
– See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/did-they-or-didnt-they-sarawak-hostage-kin-zips-lips-on-rm12m-ransom-money?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#sthash.sQEWta1e.dpu
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18 June 2016
Sri Sanjeevan R @SanjeevanSSS 8 hours ago
DS @Zahid_Hamidi kata RM12juta disalurkan kpd NGO, TS @KBAB51 kata @PDRMsia tak menerima duit tersebut maka siapakah org ketiga dlm kes ini?
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17 June 2016
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FMT
Who got the money that Abu Sayyaf didn’t?
It’s easier to believe that ransom was paid than to buy the story about RM12 million being given to charity.
Malaysians are obviously relieved that four Sarawakian sailors have been freed from the clutches of Abu Sayyaf. However, many must be appalled by the farcical way in which the authorities have tried to explain matters pertaining to the ransom demanded by the militants.
We have heard various versions of what has happened to the RM12 million that the families of the four raised from well wishers and the sale of their own assets.
First came an announcement from the families that they had passed the money to the Special Branch in Sandakan and that it was to be paid to the kidnappers.
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And then, yesterday, we heard an explanation from Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in his classic obscure style.
Zahid said the RM12 million was not paid to the kidnappers, but would be passed to “legally and religiously sanctioned” organisations and agencies in the Philippines. He said these organisations, the names of which he could not disclose, were involved in welfare and various other legal activities.
He explained that this was in line with the government’s “pay no ransom” policy. He denied that the money was still with the police. When pressed further, he said he would get the police to release details surrounding the case to the public in due time.
The government probably thinks it deserves a pat on the back for a so-called charitable act that benefits foreign organisations, forgetting that the money was not its own, but came from well-wishing taxpayers and the families of the hostages.
If the government was feeling charitable, why didn’t it channel the money to local welfare bodies and organisations, which are seriously in need of funding? Why give Malaysian taxpayers’ money to foreign bodies? If the government was keeping to its policy of refusing to entertain ransom demands, why did it accept the money from the victims’ families in the first place? Why not ask them to donate it to charity?
The families’ version of what happened to the money is a lot more plausible. They did name the bank it was deposited into and even gave the date and time of the deposit. And remember that the hostages, during a press conference after their release, knelt on the ground in a classic Chinese gesture of respect to people deserving of utmost gratitude, who in this case would be the donors. This reinforced the notion that they were not lying about the ransom being paid.
We await the detailed report from the police that Zahid ordered.
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Reveal details who got the RM12m, urges Kit Siang
The Gelang Patah MP asks whether the Islamic body which received the RM12 million serves as a front for militant group Abu Sayyaf.
PETALING JAYA: DAP elder statesman Lim Kit Siang is demanding that Putrajaya disclose more details in regards to the RM12 million that was channelled to an Islamic body in the Philippines.
In a statement, the DAP veteran also questioned whether the Islamic body served as a front for militant group Abu Sayyaf to receive the RM12 million sum.
“Was ransom money paid to Abu Sayyaf for the release of the four Sarawakian hostages and is the Islamic body which received the RM12 million a front for Abu Sayyaf?”
Concrete answers over the matter are imperative in order to gain the people’s trust in the upcoming Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections, he said.
“If Malaysians cannot fully trust the Malaysian Government on this issue, can they trust any word and promises by Putrajaya? Including the by-election promises made in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar?”
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“Why has Putrajaya lost the capacity to protect the safety and security of Malaysian nationals in their homeland and waters, including the fishermen from Sungai Besar who are often captured by Indonesian authorities?”
Lim reminded Putrajaya that Malaysians want guaranteed security and safety from such incidents.
“What the people want is not just ‘band aid’ measures to secure the release of Malaysians from captivity, whether from Abu Sayyaf or the Indonesian authorities, but full safety and security for Malaysians in their homeland and waters.”
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16 June 2016
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Zahid: RM12m channeled to charities, not for ransom
The Malaysian government does not recognise kidnappers’ demands for ransom, says DPM.
PUTRAJAYA: The RM12 million raised by the families of four Sarawakians who were kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf militants will be channeled to legal charities and organisations in the Philippines, and not used as ransom money.
“The government does not recognise demands for ransom,” Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told reporters here today.
Zahid said the “donations” raised came up to RM11 million, with another RM1 million being the product of sales from the families’ land and assets.
“The total of RM12 million was given to the police, but not to be paid as ransom,” Zahid said.
“The government has decided that no ransom will be paid, and the police follows the government’s orders.
“I confirm the money would not be paid as ransom but instead, be channeled to certain organisations in the Philippines,” Zahid said, adding the organisations that received the “charity” were not terrorist or criminal groups.
“We cannot reveal the agencies because that constitutes police affairs.”
Zahid, who is also the Home Minister, said he would ask the police to release details surrounding the case to the public, in due time.
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malaysiakini.com @malaysiakini
Zahid: Ransom not under police’s jurisdiction
Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said ransom was not negotiated by police to secure the release of the four Sarawakian hostages recently released by the Abu Sayyaf after 69 days of captivity.
“Some quarters says ransom was paid, so I would like to state here that in negotiations between police and kidnappers, there was no (mention) of payment made and ransom promised to secure the hostages’ release.
“So on the allegation that ransom was paid, this is not within the jurisdiction of the relevant authorities, like police who represented the Malaysian governemnt (in this case),” he is reported by Utusan Malaysia as saying.
Separately, deputy inspector-general of police Noor Rashid Ibrahim said he is unaware of any ransom paid to secure the release of the four.
“I don’t know they paid ransom money; therefore, the best is to ask the family members,” he told Oriental Daily.
According to Bernama, Noor Rashid said he cannot comment on this as he is not involved in the operation.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/345464
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chewkokwoh @ntv7 : RM12million donation received for the 4 Sarawakian hostages handed over to police.
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Aidi Affendi K. This is very inconvenient @MyMaybank i was just about to deposit RM12million into my account. Sigh…
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Abu Sayaff victims freed after ransom were allegedly paid in Sabah, handed over by family to Malaysian officials… http://fb.me/1C2Jb8bdL
theSundaily
Money collected in Sabah kidnap case handed to police, say families
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16 June 2016
malaysiakini.com @malaysiakini
Deputy IGP: Police did their best to rescue kidnap victims
Deputy inspector-general of police Noor Rashid Ibrahim said the police did their best to rescue the four Malaysians who were kidnapped in the southern Philippines recently.
He said when the victims were kidnapped on April 1, the police’s main priority was to reunite them with their families.
“The most important thing is, they have been rescued and reunited with their families,” he told reporters at a breaking of fast reception in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/345455?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
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15 June 2016
Here’s the paper trail —> RM12mil donations handed to cops, claim hostages families
The Star
15 June 2016 | MYT 2:20 PM
RM12mil donations handed to cops, claim hostages families
SIBU: The families of the four Sarawakian sailors who were released by Abu Sayyaf captors clarified that all donations received to secure the hostages freedom were handed over to the police.
Datuk Lau Cheng Kiong, the uncle of one of the hostages, Johnny Lau Jung Hien, said RM12mil had been handed over to the Special Branch in Sandakan, Sabah, on May 24.
“We handed the amount which were in 12 Hong Leong Bank cheques of RM1mil each which were kept in a bag to the Special Branch in Sandakan between 4pm and 6pm on May 24.
“All the money raised had been handed to them and we did not keep a single sen,” Cheng Kiong said.
When contacted, Bukit Aman’s Special Branch director Comm Datuk Seri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said he had no comments on the allegations.
Cheng Kiong said the family had to clarify the matter as the donors and public wanted to know what happened to the money.
“Those who need further clarification can always look for the Special Branch and Hong Leong Bank in Sandakan. These are money from public donation. We have no right to keep them,” he said.
Cheng Kiong said of the RM12mil, RM9mil were donated by individuals, RM1mil were raised from the mortgage on two family houses in Pulau Li Hua and the balance of RM2mil from the shipping company where the four worked for.
“After setting up a Facebook appealing for public help, we received response from people and even as far as Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, China, Solomon Island and Malaysia.
“People who gave big amounts do not want their names to be revealed,” he said.
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Mystery over donations raised for Sarawak hostages https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/345397
malaysiakini.com
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malaysiakini: Freed Sarawakian hostages still in Sabah, says police http://dlvr.it/LXnRH9
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Freed Sarawakian hostages still in Sabah to facilitate investigations – http://tinyurl.com/z77hkcz via @Shareaholic
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3 April 2016
DAP MP’s cousin abducted, emergency motion to be filed
Lau Jung Hien, a cousin of Lanang DAP MP Alice Lau Kiong Yieng, was one of four Malaysians abducted in the waters of Semporna, Sabah last night.
Another two victims, Wong Teck Pang and Wong Teck Chi, were relatives of Lau, and were from Sibu. The fourth victim, Wong Hung Song, was their friend.
DAP is expected to file an emergency motion in Parliament to debate the case.
“Lau is the cousin of Alice Lau… they(victims) work in (Sabah’s waters),” a person familiar with the matter told Malaysiakini.
Sarawak DAP chief and Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen, when contacted, said they will table an emergency motion tomorrow in Parliament.
“The soonest it can be debated will be the day after tomorrow,” he said.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/336346
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2 April 2016
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Borneo Post Online
Sarawakian seafarers believed to be kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf *UPDATED*
MIRI: Four Malaysian ship crewmen – all Sarawakian – are believed to have been kidnapped by the Philippine militant group Abu Sayyaf.
They have been identified as Wong Teck Kang (31), Wong Hung Sing (34), Wong Teck Chii (29) and Johnny Lau Jung Hien (21).
The incident occurred around 7pm yesterday near Ligitan Island, in Semporna, Sabah as the tanker Tg Massive-AZ Shanghai was transporting ballast from Manila in the Philippines to Tawau.
The ship’s owner filed a police report at the Miri Central police station around 12am.
It is learnt that eight armed suspects onboard a boat intercepted the ship and kidnapped the four men.
The kidnappers have yet to make any demands.
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malaysiakini.com @malaysiakini
MP wants kidnappers in Sabah to be shot or maimed
PKR’s Penampang MP Darell Leiking has called for perpetrators of kidnappings in Sabah to be shot or maimed.
“I urge the authorities to show the seriousness in dealing with this crime by immediately reviewing the loopholes and security strategy and to issue an order to shoot to kill or to maim these kidnappers so that fear will come to the hearts and souls of these evil criminals who cross our border and sovereignty,” he said in a statement today.
Darell’s statement was in response to the kidnapping of four Malaysians off the coast of Semporna last night.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/336275
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[BREAKING] Four Msian crewmen kidnapped after gunmen raid vessel in Sabah http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/04/136723/breaking-four-msian-crewmen-kidnapped-after-gunmen-raid-vessel-sabah …
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By – 2 April 2016 @ 10:04 AM
KOTA KINABALU: Four Malaysians onboard a tugboat have been kidnapped by gunmen at Ligitan waters, last night.
Sabah police commissioner Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun said around eight gunmen stormed the tugboat at 6.15pm.
“There were four Sarawakians, two Indonesians and three Myanmar citizens onboard the vessel.
“However, the kidnappers only took the Malaysian crewmen and released the others,” he said at State police headquarters in Kepayan.
The victims have been identified as Wong Teck Kang, 31, Wong Hung Sing, 34, Wong Teck Chii, 29, and Johnny Lau Jung Hien, 21.
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weehingthong 
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