PUTRAJAYA: The government is working to bring home the remains of kidnap victim Bernard Then as soon as possible.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said efforts were being done via diplomatic channels to bring the Sarawakian home.
"We are using diplomatic channel to bring him home to his family as soon as possible," he told reporters after meeting Zambia Vice-President Inonge M. Wina at his office today.
Then was killed by his captors in the southern Phiĺippines. He was reportedly beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf terror group.
Then was grabbed along with restaurant manager Thien Nyuk Fun, 50, from the Ocean King Seafood Restaurant in Sandakan on May 15.
Thien was released on Nov 8 by the gunmen and is now back in Sandakan.
Zahid, who chaired the Cabinet meeting yesterday (Tuesday), said the government conveyed its condolences to the families of the 13 Malaysians who were killed in the recent Chiang Mai bus crash.
He also lauded the Thai government's kind gesture in presenting about RM200,000 to the families of each victim.
Meanwhile, on flood preparations, Zahid said the government had instructed relevant agencies to help Sarawak to face the possibility of floods.
He said the focus has shifted to Sarawak as weather forecasts had indicated that the state could be facing floods.
"We hope the floods in the east coast states will not be as bad as last year."