Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has confirmed that no payment was made for the release of a Chinese tourist and a Filipina kidnapped from a resort in Semporna.

"The prime minister has already said there is none and there is really none.

"This is nothing new," he told reporters at a press conference at the Defence Ministry this morning.

He said based on his experience as the previous home minister, there has been a precedence where kidnap-for-ransom groups release their victims without any ransom being paid.

Hishammuddin was responding to a Reuters report quoting unnamed Philippine police sources that a ' large ransom ' was paid for the release of Gao Huayun and Filipina hotel worker Marcy Dayawan.

The duo were kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf at gunpoint from Singamata Adventures and Reef Resort on April 2, and were released last week.

It is rare for Abu Sayyaf to release captives without a ransom being paid, the report said.

However, AFP later quoted the leader of the Philippines anti-kidnapping task force in the south Agrimero Cruz saying that no ransom was paid – contradicting the Reuters report and affirming Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's statement.

'Room for Esscom to improve'

Meanwhile, Hishammuddin, who chaired an Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) meeting earlier, said there is room for Esscom to improve.

“I think more can be done. In fact that there are no insurgencies in Lahad Datu is a testament that we have done well.

“But we can never be satisfied when it comes to the security of our nation,” he said.

He also announced that the Defence Ministry will cooperate with the Prime Minister’s Department, the Home Ministry and third parties such as Petronas.

He said the government is looking to convert abandoned oil platforms in Sabah waters into forward operating bases to enhance security measures there.

“If these oil rigs can be used as our forward bases, it is not only cost-saving but also puts us in a strategic defence position,” he said.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Shahidan Kassim had made a similar statement regarding the oil rigs on May 29.