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An image taken with a handphone camera shows freed Sarawakians Wong Teck Chii, Wong Hung Sing, Johnny Lau Jung Hien and Wong Teck Kang arriving at Sibu Airport from Kota Kinabalu June 14, 2016. — Bernama picMore
Name Filipino recipients of RM12m donations, DPM urged
MALAYMAILONLINE
KOTA KINABALU, June 17 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi must identity the Filipino groups that were given the RM12 million raised to free abducted Malaysians and allay suspicions over the move, said the Sabah chapter DAP.
Sabah DAP chairman Stephen Wong said the move was incomprehensible given that RM1 million of the amount was raised by family members who mortgaged their homes, and the money raised expressly to secure the release of four Sarawakians who were taken by Filipino militants.
“How can they give away the money to these organisations which was meant to be used to release the hostages? If the police indeed did not pay a ransom but secure the release through negotiations, then congratulations. But then the money should be returned to the families,” he said.
He further questioned the police’s authority in deciding how to disburse the money simply because the families had passed the RM12 million to them.
Wong said it was imperative that the government explain which Filipino agencies received the money and for what purposes, saying that the public will not accept the government’s insistence of the groups’ legitimacy without further details.
“Why should they hide the names of the organisations, and when did they give the money away? This is very fishy. Are the groups in some way connected to the kidnappers? They have to be transparent, the public cannot accept such a statement,” he said.
Yesterday, Ahmad Zahid told reporters that the funds raised for the four hostages were not used for ransom but were given to certain agencies in the Philippines.
The home minister declined to reveal the names of these agencies, but said they are legal bodies, some dealing with welfare and other various legal activities.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar will hold a press conference to explain the matter this evening.
The four Sarawakians were abducted on April 1 by Abu Sayyaf militants in Sabah waters and subsequently released on June 8.
An uncle to one of the freed hostages revealed on Wednesday that RM12 million was raised to ransom the four men, and given to the police on May 24.
News of their release had raised questions regarding the donations collected, but authorities denied paying any ransom to free the four.
