KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 (Bernama) - No gun battle has been reported in
Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu, in the last 24 hours, four days after
security forces launched an offensive against Sulu militants.
In fact, top police and military officers had time for Friday prayers
and 'sunat hajat' prayers with about 200 Muslims at Masjid Al-Hudah,
Felda Sahabat 16.
Felda Sahabat 16, the headquarters of security forces in Op Daulat is
located about 20 km from Kampung Tanduo which became the fortress for
Sulu militants since February 12.
Day four Op Daulat Friday involves the use of helicopters to ferry
security forces to locations in search operation while fighter jets
hover in the skies.
Since there are no signs that the Sulu militant group would disarm
unconditionally, security forces continue the hunt for the remaining
militants.
The situation in Lahad Datu has returned to normal with the people starting their daily routine.
"After the gun battle in Kampung Tanjung Batu (about 15 km from Felda
Sahabat 16) at 11.30am Thursday which killed 31 militants, there is no
indication they want to lay down arms," Inspector-General of Police, Tan
Sri Ismail Omar told a joint press conference with Armed Forces Chief,
Gen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin in Felda Sahabat 16 Friday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who inspected the Op Daulat
headquarters in Felda Sahabat Thursday said Malaysia rejected a
ceasefire and stressed the militants must lay down arms and surrender
unconditionally.
During the operation by security forces since February 1, police
arrested 79 people suspected to be linked with the intrusion in Lahad
Datu.
Ismail told a press conference this afternoon over 50 people were
detained under the Security Offences Act (Special Measures) that was
enforced last year.
"They were arrested under the new act and read together with several section of the Penal Code," he said.
Najib who went to ground zero Thursday and announced the establishment
of a Special Security Area for Kudat, Tawau, Kunak, Sandakan and Lahad
Datu has given the people confidence about safety on the Sabah east
coast.
On Tuesday, security forces launched air strikes using F18 and Hawk
fighter jets to end the intrusion by Sulu militants since February 12.
So far, 52 militants had been killed since the intrusion in Kapung Tanduo, about 130 km from Lahad Datu town.
Eight police officers were also killed, two in a gun battle in Kampung
Tanduo on March 1 and six more in an ambush in Kampung Sri Jaya,
Simunul, Semporna the next day.
Malaysia launched airstrikes and mortar attacks against nearly 200 Filipinos occupying a Borneo coastal village to end a bizarre three-week siege that turned into a security nightmare for both Malaysia and the Philippines.
ReplyDeleteThe assault follows firefights this past week that killed eight Malaysian police officers and 19 Filipino gunmen, some of whom were members of a Muslim clan that shocked Malaysia and the neighboring Philippines by slipping by boat past naval patrols last month and storming an obscure village on Borneo’s eastern Sabah state.
ReplyDeleteThe crisis has sparked jitters about a spread of instability in Sabah, which is rich in timber and oil resources. Unknown numbers of other armed Filipinos are feared to have encroached on other districts in the area recently.
ReplyDeleteMore than seven hours after fighter jets were deployed, Malaysian Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said no injuries occurred among Malaysian police and military personnel who went in to raid houses near palm oil plantations there.
ReplyDelete“On the enemy’s side, we have to wait because the operation is ongoing. We have to be careful,” the minister said, refusing to elaborate on whether there were Filipino casualties or captives.
ReplyDelete