KOTA KINABALU:  Sabah businessman Yusof Hamdan, who was among those instrumental in securing the release of 21 Malaysians and foreigners abducted from Pulau Sipadan 14 years ago, died of cancer late Wednesday.

Yusof, 63, was buried in the interior town of Keningau after Zohor prayers.

Yusof used his contacts in southern Philippines to facilitate communication with Abu Sayyaf gunmen on Jolo island where the 21 hostages were held.

The hostages, comprising nine Malaysians, three Germans, two French, two South Africans, two Finns, two Filipinos and one Lebanese, were taken from the diving haven on April 23, 2000.

After establishing communications with representatives of  Abu Sayyaf gunmen through his southern Philippine contacts, Yusof wrote to senior Malaysian leaders, including then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, to tell them of what he had done.

With that, negotiations began with the gunmen resulting the release of the hostages six months later.

The genial businessman was said to have helped to set up negotiations for the release of China tourist Gao Huayun, 29, and Filipino hotel worker Marcy Dayawan, 40, who were abducted from the Singamata Reef Resort near Semporna on April 2.

The two women were taken to Jolo island and were released by Abu Sayyaf gunmen on May 30 after 59 days of captivity following negotiations between Malaysian and Philippine security officials with the gunmen.

Among Yusof’s prominent contacts in Southern Philippines was said to be former Tawi Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahali.