Kidnappers not only use pump boats – CM

KOTA KINABALU: Pump boats should not be put centre stage over the kidnappings in Sabah, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

He pointed out that steps to consider the elements of kidnappings cannot be made in terms of transportation or vehicle only.

“They may not have used the pump boat, some use high powered speedboat. What is important to us, if there are any signs that we clearly have on their intention from our intelligence, we have complete information, then action must be taken. They know what (action) to take,” he said when asked about the matter at the Yayasan Sabah Oneoff Education Assistance launching ceremony at Tun Ahmad Raffae in Menara Tun Mustapha here yesterday.

“It is not subject to the ban (of pump boats). If there is an intention to do so, they can use various facilities and not just use pump boats. Speedboats are faster, pump boats are not. They can be hidden using that method but we have our intelligence. We improve to enable us to identify which elements are making these actions and we will eradicate them. Being the former deputy Defense Minister, we know what steps to be taken, no nonsense. We will defend our country,” he emphasized.

Security forces shot dead two men believed to be involved in a kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) syndicate in waters off Boheyan island near here on Thursday.

In the 10.45pm incident, the two men, believed to be in their 50s, were onboard a yellow pump boat and attempted to flee after being discovered by police during ‘Ops Gasak’ at Kampung Kunak Tiga here. A police team led by state Internal Security and Public Order department head Assistant Commissioner Mohd Nasaruddin M. Nasir pursued the men and ordered them to stop the boat.

The suspects, however, opened fire and the police returned fire in self-defence, killing both assailants.