Former Malaysia Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad ( now Tun ), in his office in Putrajaya, Malaysia during a press conference in April 2000 after a group of gun men kidnapped 21 people including tourists in a resort on the snorkling paradise Sipadan Island , east coast of Sabah, Malaysia. Later on, the kidnappers was identified as Abu Sayyaf , a small group of self-styled Islamic militants movements claiming independence for southern regions of Philippine. Abu Sayyaf then ransomed them off for millions of dollars after holding them for more than a year on the southern Philippine island of Jolo.