Finally, the kidnappers taste fire

Filipino gunmen escaped with hostages nine times this year, but on the last attempt, the Tiger Platoon was waiting for them.

“FINALLY. For the first time bullets are used,” Audrey, a 40-year-old Sabahan, tweeted in reply to my tweet on The Star Online breaking news report.

Yesterday morning, the news website reported “Shootout drama at sea with Filipino gunmen off Sabah”. At about 9.40pm on Thursday, Malaysian security forces came into direct confrontation with a Filipino Kidnap for Ransom (KFR) group in waters off Semporna on the east coast of Sabah.

Three suspected kidnappers were shot dead and three others captured in a 20-minute gunfight between the Tiger Platoon of the police and eight gunmen. A policeman was shot in the foot during the shootout.

Curious to know the context behind Audrey’s tweet, I WhatsApped her. “As far as I can remember, our forces have never had a direct confrontation like this one, they (KFR) always managed to slip away into the darkness. So, when they finally shot the intruders, I thought, that’s what the firearms and bullets are for,” she replied.

She’s not mistaken. There have been nine kidnappings on the east coast of Sabah this year and the KFR gunmen managed to slip away from Malaysian security forces.

“For this latest incident, must commend the Tiger Platoon. Well done. This is what we want to see,” Audrey continued.

Indeed. The shootout with the KFR gunmen was a result of a catand-mouse game played by the General Operations Force’s Tiger Platoon. After their kidnapping, the KFR group unwittingly headed to an unmarked boat which was manned by the Tiger Platoon.

Audrey’s comments are reflective of most Malaysians’ reaction to the news. They lauded the success of the Malaysian security forces.

Here are the comments in response to the “Shootout drama at sea with Filipino gunmen off Sabah” story on The Star Online Facebook page.

Yakkim Mohd: “Well Done PDRM!” (Royal Malaysian Police).

Cheah Chee Wing: “Well done to our security forces and get well soon for those injured. The rakyat salute you all.”

Guna Muniyandy: “Well done to our security forces. We want to hear more of this kind of news. These no good human scumbags need to be destroyed completely.”

Hin Choong Leong: “Good job #PDRM ... Both my thumbs up for you. Kipidap (keep it up) & Dongibap (don’t give up). Make sure to publish these 3 kidnappers’ faces in the newspaper. Also, inform Duterte he has 3 more unfinished jobs ... eat them alive ...”

On Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp, the comments on the nine previous kidnappings were brutal. Most Malaysians blamed Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) for the kidnappings of the fishermen and boatmen in the east coast of Sabah.

“How do you feel that there have been non-stop kidnappings on the east coast of Sabah since 2013?” I asked Audrey.

“I feel that this security issue has not been given the highest priority, not taken very seriously in terms of how it has been handled even after Tanduo (the Lahad Datu intrusion in February 2013),” she said.

“We already had the Sipadan kidnappings (in 2000) before, and the authorities know how easy it is to breach the waters, yet they don’t bat an eye on the rampant illegal landings. Don’t tell me they didn’t set up an intel network after all those kidnappings.”

“Before this shootout happened, what do you think of Esscom’s efforts in securing the east coast of Sabah?” I asked.

“Maybe I’m not up to date anymore with their activities, but even up till now, I look at Esscom like it’s a passive force. Responding only when ‘attacked’,” she said.

“They should strengthen their intel and at the same time be aggressive on the high seas. The intruders are not scared of them: what does this say about their presence and existence?”

Just to check whether the general public understands the business of kidnapping, I asked Audrey: “Do you think this is the end of the kidnappings at the east coast of Sabah?”

“This will not be the last intrusion; the intruders will restrategise and find another way. They seem very desperate this year,” she said. I give her a B+ for her answer. From intel sources, the KFR group that was involved in the fatal shootout are based in the Tawi-Tawi islands in southern Philippines close to the east coast of Sabah. This Tawi-Tawi KFR group is believed to be responsible for six out of the nine kidnappings in the state this year.

“This is not the end of the kidnappings. There are other KFR groups,” an intel source told me.

I also had a WhatsApp conversation with a 30-something Sabahan who wanted to know what actually happened. I gave him an insight on what had happened and he said: “Wow, interesting! Now we are doing something.

“We have always been doing something. Just that public not aware. And simply like to hantam (whack) Esscom,” I said.

“Good to know, at least seeing results now,” he said.

“There were results. Kadafi (Muktadil) arrested (early this year). Muktadil brothers (one of the main KFR groups) killed. The fact that this year no kidnapping incidents in island resorts (in east coast of Sabah),” I said. He gave me a thumbs-up emoticon.

Later in the afternoon, there was a twist to yesterday’s incident. Two gunmen and a hostage could not be located after the gunfight.

“Probably they were killed during the shootout and their bodies could not be found in the sea,” an intel source told me.

There is a big question about what happened to the three.

It is a reminder that we have not seen the end of the kidnapping menace. And that there are five Malaysian hostages – who are from one family – who are rotting in Jolo.

These no good scumbags need to be destroyed completely. Guna Muniyandi