Bahrain student kidnapped in Malaysia

Bahrain has contacted Malaysian authorities after a Bahraini student was kidnapped from his university campus and his parents here were given 24 hours to pay ransom. Bahrain's Foreign Affairs Ministry on Wednesday said it was coordinating with Royal Malaysian Police to secure the release of Ali Al Nashaba, who was kidnapped on Tuesday. The ministry said it "clarified the news from his cousin and roommate at the university's hostel who said the abduction took place in the early hours of Tuesday morning at 5:00 a.m. by three kidnapers." "Consequently, Bahrain embassy promptly initiated contacts with the foreign ministry and the competent authorities in Malaysia, the victim family, and his university colleagues." The ministry said the Bahrain Embassy in Thailand continued their efforts to resolve this issue and release the kidnapped student with close coordination with competent authorities. According to reports in the Gulf Daily News, the kidnappers have demanded a ransom of 20,000 Malaysian ringgit within 24 hours.