PUTRAJAYA: The RM12 million collected for the Sarawak kidnap victims were channelled to several legal non-governmental organisations in the Phillipines, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said the money, raised by the victims' families, was handed over to the Special Branch and was never used as ransom for the kidnapped victims.
“The government’s stand is that we do not pay any ransom and the police have to adhere to the directive.
“I had approved for the money to be channelled to several bodies in the Philippines to help them in their cause, which are legal and not against Islam.
“These bodies are not affiliated with any terrorist and illegal groups.
“The police will give further details about this; they have not kept any of the money,” he said after launching the National Wakaf (Tithe) Al-Quran programme, today.
On April 1, four brothers, Wong Teck Kangsar, 31 and Teck Chii, 29, their cousin Jung Hien and Wong Hung Sin, 34 were kidnapped from a commercial barge, MV Massive 6, in the waters off Pulau Ligitan while returning to Tawau, Sabah after sending a cargo of wood to Manila.
It was reported that their families had raised RM12 million: RM9 million came from individuals, RM1 million from mortgaging two houses and RM2 million from the shipping firm they worked.
The money was given to the Special Branch in Sandakan on May 24, the family claimed.