Parents of a Bahraini student, who was kidnapped from his university campus in Malaysia yesterday morning, have been given 24 hours to pay ransom.

Royal Malaysian Police in co-ordination with the Bahraini Foreign Affairs Ministry are searching for 20-year-old Ali Ahmed Al Nashaba, who studies electrical engineering at Linton University in Kuala Lumpur, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

His kidnappers have demanded a ransom of 20,000 Malaysian ringgit (around BD2,260) within 24 hours, the GDN learned.

His father Ahmed Al Nashaba has launched a heartfelt appeal to Bahraini and Malaysian authorities to find his son before he is harmed.

"He was kidnapped during Fajr time (morning prayer)," he told the GDN.

"He was allowed to call his roommates, asking them to bring the ransom if they want him back. His roommates called and informed us about his kidnap and the call.

"We are requesting Bahraini and Malaysian authorities to help us find him.

"We don't know who these people are and what their nationality is.

"We are worried about Ali. He is too young to go through all this.

"We are praying for his safety and hoping that Malaysian police will be able to track the kidnappers and find my son.

"I hope they will not harm my son for money."

Malaysian Ambassador Ahmed Shahizan Abdulsamad confirmed the incident, saying they were co-ordinating with authorities in Bahrain and Malaysia to find Ali.

"We are aware of this case and are co-ordinating with authorities to find the student," he said.

"At the moment, Royal Malaysian Police are handling the case.

"They are covering six areas which are common and considered dangerous.

"They are co-ordinating with Emirates Embassy in Malaysia as Bahrain has no embassy there.

"They are also co-ordinating with the foreign ministries of both countries and Malaysian Embassy in Bahrain." - TradeArabia News Service