25 years after Sipadan: a survivor's story

Free Malaysia Today

23-04-2025

On this day 25 years ago, Abu Sayyaf militants abducted 21 people – Malaysians and foreigners – from Sipadan Island, off the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA : Sometimes, the smallest decisions can leave a lasting impact. For Kua Yu Loong, it was the simple choice of leaving the bathroom and heading to the kitchen at the Sipadan resort where he worked as a cook.
It was just a two-minute walk, and he only intended to remind his staff to leave the kitchen door open for him, never imagining that this seemingly trivial act would drastically change his life for the next four months.
As he made his way back to the bathroom, the unthinkable happened. 'From behind, two people grabbed my hands and I felt a gun pushed against my waist,' the 48-year-old told FMT Lifestyle.
He was later taken to the resort's dining hall, where he saw others being held captive. That day – April 23, 2000 – Kua and 20 others became hostages in what would later be known as the Sipadan kidnappings.
What followed was a harrowing ordeal. The hostages were separated into two boats by their heavily armed abductors – whom Kua learnt later were members of the Abu Sayyaf militant group – and transported to Jolo Island in the Philippines.
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Looking back, Kua Yu Loong says he is simply grateful to have survived the ordeal. (Kua Yu Loong pics)
'On the boat, I wondered: what did they want? Where were they taking us? Those were the only thoughts running through my mind,' he recalled.
'I wanted to escape but I was scared that they'd shoot me,' he added.
By the time the boat departed, Kua recalled, it was already about 8pm and they wouldn't arrive at Jolo Island until the following day. The journey was eerily quiet: the abductors didn't speak to them, nor were they violent.
Upon arriving on the island, the hostages were led into the jungle until they reached a clearing. 'They told us to enter a house and line up for food,' he shared, adding that earlier, each hostage had been given two packets of biscuits and a bottle of soft drink.
The hostages, Kua shared, were later split into smaller groups. The first month was especially harrowing.
Kua with fellow survivor Ken Fong on a trip to Bali last year. (Kua Yu Loong pic)
He and three other Malaysians had to live in what he believed had once been a chicken coop. After eight days, the hostages were forced to move daily, changing their location in the jungle each night.
They would begin trekking around 5pm and continue until midnight. And on one occasion, he revealed, they walked until 2am.
'The Philippine government had already discovered that the Abu Sayyaf had a base here. They thought the government would try to rescue us. That's why they kept moving us from place to place,' said Kua.
For food, they were given rice with sardines or, occasionally, salted fish.
Thankfully, things began to improve in the second month as the abductors stopped moving them around – a change Kua speculated could have been the result of government negotiations with the Abu Sayyaf group.
Living and food conditions became more bearable as they began staying in a makeshift shelter made from zinc and wood. They also ate military food rations sent by the Malaysian government.
The abductors, Kua said, weren't violent towards them; still, he knew that trying to escape would be futile. 'After dark, I would hear gunshots and even bomb explosions at times. Where could I escape to?'
Through the long uncertain days and nights, Kua held on to a single hope: 'I wanted to stay alive and make it back to Malaysia.'
Kua with his wife, Lu Jiing Rong, and daughters Angela (second left) and Erica. (Kua Yu Loong pic)
Once the hostages were gradually released, that hope grew stronger – until finally, Kua's long-awaited day came in August. By then, he had been in captivity for about four months.
'One of the abductors called out: 'Ken, Yu Loong, Basilius, it's time for you to go home,'' recalled Kua, referring to two other Malaysian hostages, Ken Fong and Basilius Jim.
The trio, who were the last Malaysians to be released, were driven to another village on Jolo Island. Since it was already dark when they arrived, they were told that the journey would continue the next morning.
'That night, we didn't sleep at all. We were waiting for morning to arrive,' Kua recalled.
They had been informed that a vehicle would pick them up at 8am. 'When it didn't arrive by 10am, we told them, 'Just let us know if we can return home. Don't give us false hope.''
Kua has told his daughters Angela and Erica: 'You can go to any country – but not the Philippines'. (Kua Yu Loong pic)
To their immense relief, the vehicle finally arrived around 11am. Kua said they were taken to a local leader's residence in the city, where they ate and showered before being transported to the airport.
'When we arrived at the airport, I saw Ken's father at the plane's entrance,' he said, adding that Fong's father later piloted the plane to Zamboanga City before they made their way back to Malaysia.
Asked about the moment he finally felt safe, he said: 'It was when we landed at the airport in Kota Kinabalu. The moment the plane's wheels touched the runway, I thought, 'I'm finally home.''
Looking back, Kua said he is grateful to have survived the ordeal, and that it has taught him to treasure his family even more.
After returning home, Kua got married and opened a restaurant in his hometown of Semporna in Sabah. He is also the proud father of two daughters.
'I've told my daughters this: 'You can go to any country – but not the Philippines.''