Report: Malaysian fish breeder abducted in Mindanao

A Malaysian fish breeder was abducted in the Mindanao area while conducting a trade deal in the Philippines, a Malaysian news site reported late Wednesday. Malaysia's The Star reported that Pang Chong Pong, 47, may have entered illegally into Sitangkai Island in the Tawi-Tawi region, close to the Sabah sea border. Pang was said to be in Sitangkai to buy fish when four gunmen grabbed him at about 10 a.m. on October 5, the report said. On the other hand, the report quoted Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahalai as saying the Philippine police had been alerted over the incident, adding initial reports showed the Malaysian might have been kidnapped by a Filipino business partner. Sahalai was quoted as saying police believed Pang might still be within the Tawi-Tawi region. He added that Pang did not register with Tawi-Tawi or Sitangkai authorities and they had limited details on his business in the area. The report said Pang, who is from Kuching, operates a fish farm in Semporna. Sketchy details of the incident showed he may have crossed in two boats with three Filipino workers to Sitangkai to buy fresh fish shrimps for fish feed. It was the second abduction this year, after a Malaysian trader was kidnapped in Jolo in May, The Star report said. The Star report said Pang, who had dealings with a businessman in Semporna to carry out fish breeding at Kg Bangau Bangau, had often traveled across to Sitangkai. Last May 7, Mohd Nazaruddin Saidin, 38, from Kuala Lumpur, was kidnapped in Jolo where he had gone to buy geckos. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said efforts were being made to get Mohd Nazaruddin released. — RSJ, GMA News