I received this in the email today. I actually saw this in the primetime TV3 news last Friday night. I saw this lady being interviewed though her face was blurred. She’s already rescued tapi you can read how easy it is for people to cheat orang kampung.

I hope the syndicate is caught. Sudahlah orang miskin jual sayur, kena lagi bad luck macam ni!

KIDNAPPED AND FORCED TO WORK IN SINGAPORE

Bibia Gibing is a 28 yr old woman married with 3 children. She and her husband Juanis are from Kg.Libodon, Tuaran (to reach the kampong, they take the KK-Tambunan road, stop somewhere in Kg.Tokudon and walk for few hours).

Every Thursday Bibia and her husband would sell their produce in the tamu at Donggongon. Since they stay very far, they would come down on Wednesday afternoon and stay overnight in the tamu ground.

On 2nd June 2005 early morning (around 7am), Bibia went to the public toilet near the Donggongon tamu ground. When she came out, there was a car with 3 dark-skinned men inside. One of them asked, “Bolih berkenalan?” Bibia replied, “Bagaimana sia tidak kenal kamu.” Then, a man from the back seat came out of the car and tapped the back of Bibia. That was the last she could recall what happened to her.

When she “awoke”, she found herself somewhere in KK. For about a week, she was kept in a room, and then brought to Keningau, then back to KK. She was asked to sign some documents which she did not know (She is illiterate.)

Then on 8 June 2005, she together with 2 other persons were sent to airport and took a plane. (She could not remember to where as she has never gone out of Sabah.) But based on the signals of the handphone number of one of the two (as related by the police), it was first captured in Wisma Dang Bandang KK, then in KL, then in Johore.

The latest info was Bibia might have been taken to Singapore. Based on her conversation with her brother who called the handphone number of one of the two, she was forced to work in fish pond. She did not know where but she heard from those around that she is in Singapore! She said there were a few Sabahans who were there working, but they were “forced” like the way she went through.

When Peter, her brother, asked her more questions, she could not reply. She sounded like being drugged. She has RM500 in her wallet when she was “kinapped” but all her money was spent. According to Bibia, if she wants to return to Sabah, she has to pay back S$1,500 to the “tawkey” before she is released.

While this case is being looked into by the relevant authorities, another girl, Aini Maysik, 18 years, was also taken by force to the same work place of Bibia in Singapore on 14 June 2005. She is from Kg.Rangalau Lama (Kiulu). Her family is worried.

There above cases are only at the tip of the iceberg. There might be more “kidnap” cases which are not reported or not known.

Bibia’s case comes to light because her brother Peter just does not know to whom he could ask for help. He did not bring this up to the parish because he did not think this has to do with the Church. Luckily one of his sisters knew someone in the Women Affairs’ Unit.

We (Human Development Committee) received this info through our contacts in that Unit and the case was channeled to us for attention. We are giving moral support to Peter and Juanis while waiting for further actions from the police.

NOTE

Many Sabahans are exploited, kinapped, drugged and tricked to work in Semenanjung and neighbouring countries. What will happen to persons like Bibia and Aini? What will happen to those who just disappear or “missing” like that?

Are we not concern…..As Church, we need to do something.

The Human Development Committee of the Diocese of KK is set up to bring more awareness to Catholics about issues like this. We need your help and support. Please give us info and contact numbers which we can liaise and work with, in cases that deal with human tragedies.

Dominic Lim
Human Development Committee
fax: 088-711222
email: human_kk@catholic.org