Political party’s fundraising put the ball in militants’ court
PUTRAJAYA: Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar today blamed a political party for complicating efforts to secure the freedom of four Sarawakians abducted by Abu Sayyaf militants in April this year.
He said the political party’s move to broadcast their attempts to collect donations amounting to RM12 million, especially during last month’s Sarawak election had placed the ball in the militants’ court.
“The political party announced how much they had collected on a daily basis. Perhaps they wanted to gain some popularity but at the same time, they were providing these militants with information.
“Of course this got the other side all excited. It emboldened them (the militants) a make more demands and this complicated our efforts as they knew exactly the amount collected.
“They are not stupid. They watch television and they listen to the radio,” said Khalid in a press conference held at the deputy prime minister’s office here.
He however did not name which political party he was referring to.
Sin Chew Daily on April 25 reported that family members of the four hostages made an appearance at the election campaigns of SUPP, DAP and State Reform Party (STAR), pleading for public donations to meet the RM12 million ransom demanded by the militants.
The nation’s top cop also said that when dealing with abduction cases, the police’s main priority was to ensure the safety of the hostages.
He said this was why when pressed time and time again by the media, he refused to divulge any information pertaining to the police’s efforts in securing the hostages’ release.
“But the political parties didn’t want to heed my advice. So of course, partly yes, they are to blame because they are the ones who are giving me all these problems.
“We did whatever we could within the law to rescue them (hostages) and we have done it before. We can do it again,” added Khalid.
The four Sarawakians, brothers Wong Teck Kang, 31; and Teck Chii, 29; their cousin Johnny Lau, 21; and Wong Hung Sing, 34; were kidnapped on April 1 but released on June 7.
The families said they had raised the RM12 million through money collected from members of the public as well as from the sale of some of their assets.
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