RESCUE efforts will be launched for two Indonesians kidnapped in Semporna this morning, said Sabah Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal.

He said although the duo were not Malaysians, the matter must be dealt with the same way had locals been involved.

“Although they are Indonesians, we will try our best to resolve the problem.

“We must make sure lives are protected. Not just Sabahans, but also those kidnapped within state boundaries.

“We will tighten border security further. The authorities are gathering intelligence along with their Filipino counterparts, to locate where the duo are now,” he told reporters after launching Maal Hijrah celebrations in Kota Kinabalu.

Two of four Indonesians working on board a Sabah-registered fishing boat were kidnapped about 1am by a group of armed men in the waters off Semporna, Shafie’s hometown.

The chief minister, who is also Sabah Security Council chairman, oversees the Eastern Sabah Security Command’s operations, covering the Eastern Sabah Security Zone.

The authorities confirmed that the company the Indonesians worked for had a permit to fish during the dusk-to-dawn curfew, which was imposed four years ago. – September 11, 2018.