This statistics would be enough to scare a lot of people - the tourists, investors, the genuine citizens, you, me! How can one live in a place where people treat others worse than animal!
Sabah-based Daily Express, April 24, 2014
You can grab your copy of today's local daily -
the Daily Express - and read the full article, but I'll spare you that and I'll summarise the kidnapping incidents around the vicinity of Semporna town since 1998:
September 1998 - two Hong Kong Chinese and a Malaysian Sabahan were reportedly kidnapped on one of the islands near Sabah-Philippine boarder in Semporna
April 2000 - a band of six men armed with M16 rifles and rocket launchers staged a quick raid on Pulau Sipadan off Semporna, and took 21 hostages including ten foreign tourists in two junk boats around dinner time.
September 2000 - an armed group struck at a resort in Pandanan just six month after the Sipadan kidnapping, involving 3 Malaysian hostages
October 2003 - six foreign workers (three Indonesians and Filipinos) we're kidnapped by a group of ten armed men, believed to be pirates, from the Borneo Paradise Eco Farm and Resort on a Sunday night.
April 2004 - two Sarawakians and an Indonesian were kidnapped by a group of armed men, believed from Abu Sayyaf group, off Pulau Taganak, while heading to the Solomon Islands in the Pacific.
March 2005 - a group of five armed pirates abducted three Indonesian crew of a Sandakan-based sea transporting company near Mataking Island, off Semporna.
January 2010 - a crew of six to eight men fishing bout was captured by gunmen, when their boat strayed into the Philippine waters near Boan Island.
February 2010 - a manager and supervisor, aged 35 and 43, of a seaweed cultivation farm in Semporna were kidnapped by four armed men in Pulau Sebangkat about eight nautical miles off Semporna.
May 2011 - ten gunmen kidnapped a Malaysian businessman on a troubles southern Philippine Jolo Island, a known stronghold of Islamic militants.
November 2012 - a 33-year-old plantation manager and his 25-year-old assistant, both cousins, we're inspecting a swiftlet house in the plantation near Felda Sahabat 15, 50kma way from Lahad Datu! with two workers when they were abducted by five armed men who dragged them into a waiting boat.
August 2013 - nine fishermen claimed that they wee kidnapped by a group of 20 armed men off Semporna waters.
November 2013 - a Taiwanese tourist was shot dead and his female companion abducted by an armed group at the Pom-Pom Island Resort located some 14 nautical miles off Semporna.
April 2014 - a 29-year-old Chinese tourist and a 40-year-old Filipina resort employee, were abducted by a group of seven armed men from the Singahmata Adventure and agreed are sort located some 10 minutes boat ride from Semporna Town.
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So, please tell me how to explain this to a tourist intending to cancel his trip to Sabah, or, how can I convince my friends and family that it is safe to visit these areas in the East Coast.
Figures don't lie.
