PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak has called on the authorities to bring home the remains of the late Bernard Then Ted Fen as soon as possible.
"I want Malaysian officials to liaise with the authorities in the Philippines and bring home the remains as soon as possible to help provide closure to his family," he said in a Facebook posting today.
He also expressed sadness upon learning that DNA tests by the Philippine authorities confirmed that the remains found in Jolo is that of Then, who was abducted by four armed man in Sabah in May.
"I sympathise with the family of Then and wish to express my deepest condolences in this difficult time," Najib added.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar was reported as saying that the police have received verbal confirmation that the DNA of the headless body found by the Philippines authorities is of Then.
Then, 39, an engineer from Sarawak, was reported beheaded on Nov 17 in a remote location considered to be a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern Philippines.
On May 14, both Then and restaurant manager Thein Nyuk Fun, 50, were abducted by a group of armed men at a seafood restaurant in Sandakan. Thien was released on Nov 8.
THE SUN
