Gunmen kill tourist and kidnap wife from Pom Pom Resort

[OnTheSpot]

Yes interesting how the response from the Malaysian forces/government is to blame foreigners (their favourite go to subject when bad things happen): (a) the kidnapper was a foreigner, (b) there are white people working at the resort - let's blame them too. Surprising they didn't blame the Taiwanese victims. This is clearly an attempt to deflect blame from themselves for failing to keep the area secure. Don't believe the government spin on EVERYTHING that happens in Malaysia.

 

[bracko]

Where did you stay? How was the diving?

really good. took a few days to understand why all the guides go so nuts for the area but I liked it after one or two days of thinking 'I've just spent a lot of money to look at dead reef and pick up garbage'

there is rubbish on some of the dive sites, so pick it up if you can safely. but the macro is very good, Sipadan is a great blue water dive. I'm not sure why it rates so highly though, it's very good diving, not the world's best.

 

[The Wolf]

What problems are you referring to?
There have been no tourist kidnappings since 2002.

I don't understand why the security forces were 1km away from a high end resort. They were obviously too far away to be of use.

Do you expect every resort to have an army outpost next door to each resort?

I am going to assume you do not take into account the 10 policemen who were ambushed in Semporna in Feb this year and mutilated as well as the 2-3 army and special forces men who were killed up north from Pom Pom during the same incursion and also the kidnapping of the 2 malaysian fishermen a couple of years back from their Oyster farm. And the near miss with the local school kids a few years ago when they pirates missed the entire group after they decided to leave a couple of hours earlier than planned.

I stated earlier this year the area is unsafe AFTER the Lahad Datu incursions and I was resoundley hammered for it by a couple of 'experts' on here who neither are based in Borneo nor have access to half decent intelligence reports. It was known within the intelligence community for some time they were (splinter groups of the AS) looking towards picking up hostages. This is not new...this information has been leaked and has been circulating both in the media in Malaysia and within the community in the area for months now...

There is NO naval screen of ships with advanced radar around Semporna or the major outlying islands to essentially protect the resorts and tourists during the night. And this was a result of that carelessness.

I said it before and I will say it again, the Malaysian government are not taking this problem seriously enough. And never have since the attacks in Lahad Datu town back in the early 80's and the raids on the filipino trading ships.

This problem will never get solved until the Philippines get their **** together and actually make an effort to improve the economic and social structure in the South and either create jobs or encourage business and trade...the reason these pirates are doing what they are doing is a lack of work, poverty and the ease to make money from muslim war lords who all claim to be Sultan's of Sulu and are paid decent wages to earn a living and survive.

And it does not help at all there is no system to raise an alarm if there is such an attack...because it took 1 security guard to run that kilometer in the dark to raise the alarm...

Mind blowing Malaysian security.

---------- Post added November 28th, 2013 at 07:40 PM ----------

Yes interesting how the response from the Malaysian forces/government is to blame foreigners (their favourite go to subject when bad things happen): (a) the kidnapper was a foreigner, (b) there are white people working at the resort - let's blame them too. Surprising they didn't blame the Taiwanese victims. This is clearly an attempt to deflect blame from themselves for failing to keep the area secure. Don't believe the government spin on EVERYTHING that happens in Malaysia.

Why on earth would you blame the tourist? They didn't ask to be kidnapped.

They were assuared of their safety by the Sabah and Malaysian government..and look what happens next.

And let's be honest, there are some genuinely major assholes working at some of these resorts who are a) working illegally without valid work permits b) forget they are NOT in their country but in a foreign country and ignore local etiqute when talking to locals and are happy to use the F-WORD in every sentence when trying to tell someone off..

The actions of the 'whites' at Pom Pom Resort AFTER the incident was embarrassing and their treatment of the investigating team and the media that followed was just what I expected from these buggers.

The only thing saving them from getting arrested by the immigration department was the fact the owner of the pom pom resort was a VIP and is/was well connected to the chief minister of Sabah.

Have you seen Pom Pom Resort express ANY remorse thus far about the death of the taiwanese tourist or the kidnapping? Absolutely ZERO. It's business as usual for them...if you don't believe me, check out their website and their facebook group page.

---------- Post added November 28th, 2013 at 07:42 PM ----------

I was going to say that it is usually safe if you do not wander from the resort - but I see that this was a raid - from the sea, on the resort itself and villas were ransacked. Looks like there has been ongoing problems for some time. - P

There is no intelligence to indicate WHICH direction they came from before their assault, nor ANY intelligence thus far they have actually crossed over into the Philippines. They could very well still be in Sabah waters/ or on land itself.

---------- Post added November 28th, 2013 at 07:44 PM ----------

I have just returned. While anything can happen I felt incredibly safe on the island and while diving.

This is a huge shock.

Everything is and seems normal until you're in the situation of a gun being pointed at you and the realization you're in big big trouble...

Yes, honestly, things are super calm over there but the security is, to be fair, a bit of a joke within the spec ops community.

 

[Midget]

I'm not arguing any of your points, but I know that Kapalai Resort had military personnel stationed at the resort proper. They were armed with machine guns and their presence was not hidden. The rooms were also equipped with alarm buttons. That doesn't make it 100% safe, but it is a helluva lot better than having them posted 1km away.
I haven't been for quite a few years, but it sounds like security in the area may be more lax now. The waters off Semporna used to be rife with security/military boats.
Sabah is very porous. Big challenge.

 

[Jeevz]

Scary stuff...

Does anyone have any new reports of how things are looking over there at the moment? ( I know this kind of question gets asked again and again - and most people seem to say they haven't noticed any problems on their trips out there)

We are planning a trip to mabul in February and are a little concerned. Also finding it difficult to find much information - Sabah tourism are saying that it is safe to visit (as you can imagine they would); but their response isn't entirely reassuring.

"Pursuant to the unfortunate death of the Taiwanese male tourist and abduction of his wife at the popular Pom Pom Island Resort, the case is still under investigation by the Police. The Authorities has advised that all measures are taken to ensure she will be returned safely. The Sabah Tourism Board conveys our condolences to the families of the couple.
We wish to inform that all other island activities and dive resorts in Sabah are carrying out business as usual. We wish to assure that Sabah is safe to visit, including the resort islands off Semporna."


from Sabah Advisory | Sabah, Malaysian Borneo

it doesn't mention anything about any measures being put in place to prevent further incidents.

 

[Zippsy]

I must be weird. I am spending two weeks visiting family in Baltimore - where they average one murder every 36 hours - and it never occurred to me to cancel my trip.

 

[chillyinCanada]

Zippsy!

In any event, haven't heard another thing about the poor kidnap victim. Does anyone know if demands have been made? Or worse they decided she was of no value to them after all?

 

[Jeevz]

I must be weird. I am spending two weeks visiting family in Baltimore - where they average one murder every 36 hours - and it never occurred to me to cancel my trip.

Heh, I have been travelling to many other places which have high murder rates or are perceived as dangerous, but for some reason this seems different. (Maybe it is because I am going with my girlfriend rather than alone) - but also potentially because in other places I have felt like there are measures I can take to help somewhat with safety. In Sabah IF tourists are going to continue to be targeted there is not much I can personally do to reduce the risk of being attacked on an island/at sea other than avoiding the area.

A lot of fear comes from the unknown and not knowing whether the situation is escalating/is going to escalate.

and yeah I have tried to search for more info on the kidnapping and have come up with nothing. Maybe trying to avoid media attention in order to help with negotiations?

---------- Post added December 9th, 2013 at 09:47 AM ----------

Also the lack of information is what concerns me. Maybe that is a good thing, maybe there isn't much to tell. But I at least like to be able to know what the risks are, and I feel like I can't really make an informed decision at the moment.

 

[The Wolf]

1) She is already in Tawi-tawi from what I have heard
2) Ransom demands have been made but via third parties

And that's all anyone I know is willing to say...plus the media have also released the same information as well locally.

 

[chillyinCanada]

Thanks.