Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaCreative Commons / ark3pix

A photo of two Malaysian nationals who were abducted last November by a Filipino terror group has surfaced, leading to the possibility that the duo might still be alive.

The photograph, emailed to The Star Online, had cousins Chong Wei Fei (33) and Chong Wei Jie (25) placed before a placard that stated 'March 7, 2013' with guns pointed at them.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said, "We know they are alive but we have no contact whatsoever."

Family members of the abducted duo have refused to speak about the incident and are bannking on police consultation.

Earlier reports had stated that the kidnappers had demanded RM 10 million as ransom from the family. The demand went futile as the family could not give into the kidnappers wishes.

"The two hostages are asking why nobody has come to help release them. They are suffering from diabetes and hypertension," said a source from South Philippines.  

People's Justice Party vice president Chua Jui Meng expressing hope for the Chong cousins said, "It is good news for their families and we pray for their well-being. But the case again shows how weak is our security in East Malaysia where the borders are so porous that foreign thugs can enter at will and whisk away our citizens for ransom," reported Malaysia Chronicle.

The cousins and two other people were kidnapped on 13 November, 2012 when the bandit group of armed men entered a bird's nest farmhouse at an oil palm plantation near Kampung Manakayan.

According to the sources who have been trying to negotiate a deal in the matter, the victims are regularly being moved to different places to make the police tracking process difficult.

Another concern regarding the safety of the victims popped up as the photograph carried a placard which dates back to 7 March. But it was mailed only on Thursday making it a four-month old record.