KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 -- The Chinese national who was kidnapped in Malaysia's eastern state of Sabah on May 6 has been released, an official from the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia said here Thursday.

The official told Xinhua that according to the Malaysian police, the kidnapped Chinese national had been set free by Philippine abductors and safely returned to Malaysia.

Malaysian local English language newspaper The Star on Thursday quoted Malaysian Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar as saying that the victim had been brought to Sandakan, Sabah, and would be taken to Kuala Lumpur Thursday evening before being sent back to China.

The Chinese abductee was from China's Guizhou province and used to work in a Malaysian fishing company before being kidnapped.