KOTA KINABALU: Four Malaysians onboard a tugboat have been kidnapped by gunmen at Ligitan waters, last night.
Sabah police commissioner Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun said around eight gunmen stormed the tugboat at 6.15pm.
"There were four Sarawakians, two Indonesians and three Myanmar citizens onboard the vessel.
"However, the kidnappers only took the Malaysian crewmen and released the others," he said at State police headquarters in Kepayan.
The victims have been identified as Wong Teck Kang, 31, Wong Hung Sing, 34, Wong Teck Chii, 29, and Johnny Lau Jung Hien, 21.
Abdul Rashid however said it was unsure whether the incident occurred in Malaysian waters or the Philippine waters, adding police were taking statement from the other crew members.
He said the tugboat together with the crew members had been taken to Tawau police headquarters.
It is learnt the tugboat was travelling from Manila to Tawau when the abduction took place.