Kidnaps the price for betraying MNLF's Misuari?

KOTA KINABALU - Malaysia is paying the price of "betraying" MNLF leader, Nur Misuari, during then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's tenure, as evident by the spate of kidnapping incidents.

Former Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, said it was a big mistake on the part of Malaysia to send back Misuari to Manila in 2001 when he was fleeing the Philippine authorities and was in Malaysian waters off Sabah.

"We were burning the bridge between Malaysia and MNLF," he said in an interview with a national tabloid.

In November 2001, Misuari fled to Sabah following a failed MNLF rebellion against Manila and alleged irregularities when he was Governor of ARMM (Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao).

Ombra S. Malik, a MNLF central committee member since the beginning of the MNLF struggle in 1968, had also confirmed Yong's suspicion.

"The MNLF leadership could not understand why Malaysia arrested the MNLF Chairman and turned him over to the (Gloria Macapagal) Arroyo government for rebellion-related imprisonment for more than five years."

On the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace deal that was signed this year, Yong said: "Sabah's security problem is not solved by Manila making peace with MILF. Our bet is with MNLF."

Yong, who is also President  of Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), said the MILF sphere of influence was east of Zamboanga City while the MNLF was in command west of the city.

"Nobody knows the Muslim Mindanao area better than the MNLF," said Yong, who in his tenure as Sabah Chief Minister was indirectly involved in the 1996 peace deal that ended the MNLF rebellion against the Philippine government.

MNLF has partial control of the provinces close to the east coast of Sabah, like Basilan, Sulu (where Jolo is located) and Tawi Tawi.

"The Sipadan and Pom Pom kidnappings were carried out by pure bandits but MNLF machinery, intelligence and foot soldiers would have been an asset to counter the kidnap-for-ransom groups," Yong said.

Meanwhile, a MNLF leader in command of a platoon in Sabah's east coast identified only as Amir (not his real name) said MNLF was useful in securing security in Sabah's east coast.

"But now who do you call to solve your problems? You did not give face to the MNLF," he said.

DE