Lahad Datu News Compilation Thread

[BlackRiders]

Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman

Malaysian journalists ordered to call Sulu gunmen as ‘terrorists’

By Allan Nawal
Philippine Daily Inquirer
9:31 pm | Monday, March 11th, 2013

AP FILE PHOTO

DIGOS CITY, Philippines–Independent Malaysian online news provider Malaysiakini has claimed that Malaysian journalists covering the Sabah crisis in Lahad Datu were ordered by the Sabah minister on Monday to always refer to the armed followers of the sultan of Sulu as “terrorists.”

This developed as the Tawau district police chief Awang Besar Dullah said pamphlets written in Melayu had started circulating in the district, which urged “a certain race to rise up and cause chaos in Sabah.”

He would not directly say what race was behind the circulation of the pamphlets titled “Raya Hidup Berkuasa (The kingdom reign forever).” But Awang said the distribution of the “rebellious” pamphlets was certainly related to the intrusion of the Sulu gunmen.

In an article posted on Monday, Malaysiakini said Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman had “ordered” journalists to stop referring to Jamalul Kiram III as Sultan of Sulu and to refer to his followers involved in the Sabah violence as “terrorists.”

Aman’s order, Malaysiakini said, came in the wake of a statement from Deputy Minister Ahmad Maslan that “the intruders who have terrorized others should not be likened to a respectable group like an army.”

“Stop referring to that terrorist group as the royal army of the Sulu sultanate … it is also inappropriate to link the Sulu community in Sabah with the group,” he said.

Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was quoted by state media Bernama as saying “(the) armed intruders are like terrorists, however I leave it to the media to figure out what to call them.”

 

[BlackRiders]

Aquino banks on Najib promise to protect 800,000 Filipinos in Sabah

By TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
2:56 am | Tuesday, March 12th, 2013

This March 9, 2013, photo released by Malaysia’s Ministry of Defense, shows a beach area which is believed to be the area where a group of Filipino gunmen entered near Tanduo village in Lahad Datu, Borneo’s Sabah state, Malaysia. Malacañang on Monday, March 11, 2013, said it was holding on to the promise of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak to protect the 800,000 Filipinos living and working in Sabah. AP PHOTO/MALAYSIA’S MINISTRY OF DEFENSE

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang on Monday said it was holding on to the promise of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak to protect the 800,000 Filipinos living and working in Sabah.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Najib made the promise to President Aquino when they talked by phone on March 2 after Malaysia launched a military action to end the intrusion of followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III into Sabah.

Hundreds Filipinos are fleeing Sabah to avoid getting caught in the crossfire between Malaysian security forces and an armed group led by Jamalul’s brother Agbimuddin. Those returning tell of abuses being committed by Malaysian police against Filipinos they suspect have links to Agbimuddin’s group.

One refugee, Amira Taradji, recounted that Malaysian police ordered Filipino men to run then shot them. Her brother was among those killed. Lacierda said the government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), was documenting reports of abuses from the refugees.

“Social welfare officials are talking to those who are coming home from Sabah to find out if there’s some truth to these reports,” he said. If the reported abuses are true, Lacierda said, they are an offshoot of the intrusion of Agbimuddin’s group into Sabah.

“We have, from the very start, told them that this is something that may happen. The path that they have taken is the wrong path, and it is a path that would lead to violence,” he said, referring to the Sulu sultanate’s decision to press its claim to Sabah by occupying the land. Lacierda said the government needed to verify the reports of abuses before taking action.

Civic and activist groups and lawmakers have called on the government to take action, including protesting the reported abuses to Malaysia. The Blas F. Ople Policy Center on Monday joined the call for protection for the Filipinos in Sabah, urging the International Labor Organization to monitor abuses being committed against Filipinos in the eastern Malaysian territory.

“We wish to appeal to ILO to work with member states—Malaysia and the Philippines—in ensuring that the rights and welfare of migrant workers in conflict-afflicted communities in Sabah are upheld at all times,” Susan Ople, head of the policy center, said in a statement.

The crush of refugees from Sabah is taxing the government’s logistics, both for ferrying refugees and moving food. Rice is becoming scarce in Tawi-Tawi, and the government is having difficulty checking the problem.

Lt. Gen. Rey Ardo, chief of the military’s Western Mindanao Command, confirmed a “developing crisis” in Tawi-Tawi—a dwindling rice supply and rising fuel prices. Tawi-Tawi imports rice and fuel from Sabah.

“It may not be as immediate as it is, but it is a developing crisis and the indicator is the prices of fuel there have reached P100 per liter,” Ardo said. On Sunday, the DSWD said it was running out of rice to feed the refugees.

But Ardo said the Philippine Navy could not simply “pull out one ship to ferry 1,000 sacks of rice from Zamboanga to Bongao.” He said some of the Navy’s vessels were deployed to waters off Sabah, patrolling the sea to guide refugees fleeing from the territory and to block reinforcements for Agbimuddin’s group from Mindanao.

Another vessel is being used by the humanitarian mission that is still waiting for permission from the Malaysian government to enter Sabah. Another problem, Ardo said, is spreading out military resources to the many islands in the south where refugees are landing.

Admiral Armando Guzman, commander of Naval Forces Western Mindanao, said the Navy had already spread out its assets to secure the safety of the refugees fleeing Sabah.

—With reports from Tina G. Santos in Manila and Julie S. Alipala and Allan Nawal, Inquirer Mindanao

 

[BlackRiders]

Amalilio case takes backseat to Sabah conflict

By Christine O. Avendaño
Philippine Daily Inquirer
2:57 am | Tuesday, March 12th, 2013

Manuel Amalilio: Assets probe. Contributed photo

MANILA, Philippines-The Philippine government has put on hold its talks with Malaysia over its bid to have Manuel Amalilio, the man allegedly behind a P12-billion Ponzi scam, extradited due to the ongoing conflict in Sabah.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Monday admitted that the conflict in Sabah, which ensued after followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III landed in what they claimed was their homeland, had affected the government’s bid to seek the immediate extradition of Amalilio.

Despite the setback, the Department of Justice (DOJ) started Monday the process of prosecuting Amalilio, his agents and co-conspirators in the country. The DOJ filed a syndicated estafa complaint against Pagadian City Mayor Samuel Co in the Iligan City Regional Trial Court, accusing the mayor of acting as an “agent” for Amalilio’s Aman Futures Group Philippines.

Also charged were 12 others, including Amalilio and his wife, Abigail Pendulas.

Amalilio, who fled to Malaysia after his investment scam unraveled, is currently serving a two-year sentence in Kota Kinabalu after he was convicted by a Malaysian court for possessing a fake Philippine passport.

The Philippine court case against Amalilio et al. was filed on the recommendation of the special panel of prosecutors at the DOJ, which found probable cause to indict the 12 respondents.

In its Feb. 26 resolution, a special DOJ panel recommended the filing of sydicated estafa charges against Co, Amalilio, Pendulas as well as Aman’s directors Fernando Luna, Leila Lim Gan, Eduard Lim, Wilanie Fuentes, Naezelle Rodriguez and Lurix Lopez, and investors Jason de los Reyes, Jerome Sanchez and Oliver Dequito.

4-percent tax on investments

The DOJ panel indicted Co after the mayor was found to have entered into an agreement with Aman wherein Pagadian City would impose a four-percent tax on every investment made in the company.

The panel said that because of this agreement, the complainants were made to believe that Aman was a legitimate business and decided to invest in the company.

“This is one of the important and telling circumstances which led the panel to believe that by all indications, Mayor Co was not only an investor but acted as an agent,” De Lima told reporters.

The DOJ panel also cited the affidavit of Gan, an Aman board member, who said the company had issued a certification on Aug. 25, 2012, declaring Co as an “authorized agent of Aman in online futures trading.”

“That respondent Co, using his public office, offered C3, a public building owned by the city government of Pagadian, for rent in favor of Aman is a clear indication that respondent Co is not merely an investor, as he claims,” the DOJ panel said.

De Lima said she was hoping arrest warrants would be issued soon by the court as she noted that syndicated estafa was a nonbailable offense.

The case was based on the complaint filed by investor Julius Labunog on behalf of four others who had invested a total of P29.633 million in Aman between August and September 2010.

Amalilio’s wife, Pendulas, was also indicted because the company had “manifested and represented to the general public that [she] had authority to transact and/or talk to unpaid investors after news broke that Aman was having problems.”

Relied on representations

The DOJ panel also said the complainants had relied on the representations made by Pendulas and, “on the basis of this reliance, complainants were falsely appeased, to their damage and prejudice.”

The panel said that while all the respondents had denied knowing the complainants, it noted that “there is no denying that the acts of its agents benefited them, having attracted investors.”

Meanwhile, De Lima said that upon consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs, she had deferred indefinitely the trip to Kuala Lumpur by a team of DOJ prosecutors and lawyers who were set to leave Tuesday to work for the immediate extradition of Amalilio.

“I don’t think we have the right environment or atmosphere to be talking to our counterparts,” De Lima told reporters, adding that Malaysia for one was “preoccupied” with the conflict in Sabah and it would be “pointless” to have discussions at this time.

She made it clear that they had not yet talked to Malaysian officials about this decision and expected the DFA to immediately inform them.

“Prudence dictates that this is not the right atmosphere or moment to sit down with Malaysian officials to talk about Amalilio,” De Lima said, noting that it would be “uncomfortable” to take up this matter given the situation in Sabah.

 

[BlackRiders]

Agbimuddin general’s body recovered – report

INQUIRER.net, The Star-Asia News Network
12:55 pm | Tuesday, March 12th, 2013
8 372 325

The heirs of the Sultan of Sulu: (seated from left) Rajah Mudah Agbimuddin Kiram, Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, Sultan Bantilan Esmail Kiram II and (standing from left) Datu Alianapia Kiram, Datu Phugdal Kiram and Datu Baduruddin Kiram. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The body of a top official of Rajah Mudah Agbimuddin Kiram has been recovered by police in Sabah, Malaysian media reported Tuesday.

Malaysia’s The Star online said the remains of Haji Musa, a general of the Sulu group led by Agbimuddin Kiram, was found in Kampung Tanjung Batu along with other bodies of the Sulu gunmen.

According to The Star, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said he had new information that there were up to 15 bodies buried there.

“We believe there are more bodies buried in the same grave and in other graves nearby.

“Our men will be going back to investigate,” he told the morning press conference here Tuesday.

Nine bodies of the gunmen were initially discovered in a hole by security forces after a strike on the village on March 6 where the armed intruders had been holed up since Feb, 9, the report added.

“One more body was recovered from Kg Tanjung Batu today (Tuesday), bringing the total number of bodies recovered to 23,” added Hamza.

The death toll for the gunmen remains at 54 and no shootings were reported since Monday.

Malaysian security forces launched an all-out offensive against the group last Tuesday after attempts to end the three-week stand-off peacefully failed.

 

[BlackRiders]

New team of Malaysian ceasefire observers arrives in Mindanao

By Edwin Fernandez
Inquirer Mindanao
2:31 pm | Tuesday, March 12th, 2013

DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao, Philippines—A new 19-man Malaysian contingent has arrived in Mindanao against the backdrop of the Sabah crisis, leading officials on both sides to observe that current events in the east Malaysian estate have failed to make a dent on Philippine-Malaysian relations.

The new Malaysian contingent to the International Monitoring Team (IMT) is led by First Admiral Abdul Rahman Abdul Ayob and replaces the previous one led by Major General Abdul Rahim Yusuf. Its advance party arrived last Saturday and the rest of the contingent on Monday.

During the send-off ceremony for Yusuf’s team, Brigadier General Cesar Sedillo Jr., deputy commander of the military’s 6th Infantry Division based here, thanked Malaysia for continuing to help monitor the ceasefire between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front despite the Sabah crisis.

Sedillo said the role of the IMT was vital in ensuring peace in Mindanao, adding that since last year, no skirmishes have occurred between soldiers and MILF guerrillas.

Major General Fadzil Mokhtar, head of the Malaysian advance party, was quoted by a local TV station as saying the Sabah crisis was immaterial to Malaysia’s role in the peace process between the Philippine government and the rebels.

“We might have arrived in wrong timing,” he was quoted as saying, adding, “this new tour of duty will not be tarnished in relation to the Sabah issue.”
“Our mission is to monitor the ceasefire and nothing else,” he said.

Mokhtar said Malaysian Armed Forces Chief General Zulkifeli Zin told them to “remain neutral, impartial and professional” in carrying out their duties as peace monitors in Mindanao and “not to be complacent and get involved in any indiscipline.”

The Malaysian IMT monitors will be deployed in various conflict areas in Mindanao until March 2014.

 

[BlackRiders]

Malaysian soldier shot dead in Borneo clashes

Agence France-Presse
7:01 pm | Tuesday, March 12th, 2013

In this Tuesday, March 5, 2013 photo released by Malaysia’s Ministry of Defense, Malaysian soldiers join an assault near the area where a stand-off with Filipino gunmen took place, at Tanduo village in Lahad Datu, Borneo’s Sabah state, Malaysia. AP FILE PHOTO

KUALA LUMPUR—Philippine armed intruders shot dead a Malaysian soldier Tuesday, the first military fatality since security forces launched an assault one week ago to crush the Islamist gunmen.

Three gunmen also died in the shootout in Sabah on the island of Borneo, armed forces chief Zulkifeli Zin said, which underlined the continued deadly threat posed by the invaders in Malaysia’s biggest security crisis in years.

Authorities did not provide an overall death toll from the month-long drama, but reports and government statements had indicated an earlier count of 63 killed prior to Tuesday’s clash — mostly intruders.

The gunmen, who claim to be the “royal army” of a self-styled Philippine sultan, landed in Sabah last month to assert a long-dormant claim on the region, stunning Malaysia and injecting tension into ties between the two neighbors.

After a three-week standoff in a sleepy farming village surrounded by palm oil plantations, a violent shootout triggered a Malaysian armed forces attack March 5 that sent the gunmen into hiding in surrounding farmland and a nearby village.

Police also said Tuesday they had confirmed that a militant killed earlier was one of the group’s top leaders, identified by Malaysian media as Haji Musa, a former commander with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
The MNLF had waged a rebellion against the Philippine government in the country’s Muslim south until signing a peace deal in 1996.

Eight police officers were killed in earlier shootouts, and security forces also shot dead a teenager over the weekend. It has not been made clear whether the boy was a local or linked to the militants.

Authorities have also arrested at least 97 people throughout the state and are investigating if they have links to the incursion. They have not revealed any further details.

Supporters of Manila-based Jamalul Kiram III claiming he is heir to the defunct southern Philippine sultanate of Sulu have said about 235 people took part in the mission.

Manila has come under pressure to prevent the deaths of the Philippine nationals, while Malaysian public sentiment has strongly backed the tough army action.

 

[BlackRiders]

Malaysian soldier shot dead in Borneo clashes

 

[BlackRiders]

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Dr Jeff: Under whose authority for establishing a Special Security Area

While we appreciate the need for the Special Security Area (SSA) from Kudat to Tawau in view of the Sulu Invasion, the PM should also clearly explain and define the terms of reference of the SSA so that the citizens can understand how it works and how it affects their everyday lives,” said Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief.

“Does the PM have the authority to declare Kudat to Tawau as a “Special Security Area”? If so, under what authority?”

Under the Federal Constitution, the Prime Minister has no legislative power, not even in an emergency situation. The power lies with the Yang DiPertuan Agong and Parliament.

Under Article 150, “if the Yang DiPertuan Agong is satisfied that a grave emergency exists whereby the security, or the economic life, or public order in the Federation or any part thereof is threatened, he may issue a Proclamation of Emergency making therein a declaration to that effect.”

Under Article 149, it is for Parliament to pass the necessary laws if there is any “action has been taken or threatened by any substantial body of persons, whether inside or outside the Federation - …(f) which is prejudicial to public order in, or the security of, the Federation or any part thereof,”

Even if the SSA is properly declared, the PM must clearly spell out the terms of reference and the rules governing the SSA as it affects nearly half of Sabah and Sabahans and their daily lives.

There will be legal, socio-economic and political implications and many questions are raised.

Is the SSA the equivalent of a security area in an emergency? What are the rules and the laws applicable? What are the restrictions on people going about their daily lives? How long will the SSA last?

Politically, serious implications are involved given that the Federal Parliament and the State Assembly tenures have expired or will expire soon and general elections are due anytime soon.

The area from Kudat to Tawau involves 11 Parliamentary seats and 27 DUN seats and the Parliamentary seats affect the whole of Malaysia, not just Sabah, as the Malaysian Parliament is a combined parliament including seats from Sabah.

Will the Parliamentary seats and the DUN seats be excluded from coming general elections? Will political events be affected and how will the rules impact political functions and attendances?

Whatever, the decision, it cannot be denied that it has affected the sentiments of the people in Sabah, perhaps in West Malaysia as well. It has definitely shaken the confidence of Sabahans.

Will the 5 additional battlions of army and police personnel be voting in Sabah constituencies and directly determine the future and destiny of genuine Sabahans? Is this a ploy by Umno/BN to retain and control Sabah and its oil and rich resources? This is on everyone’s mind given the unending reports that Umno members including an Umno branch chairman and information chief were involved in the intrusion and that many of the intruders have ICs and are Umno members. This was not specifically denied by the Prime Minister during his press conference in Tawau when confronted by the international reporters.

The hasty manner in which the SSA was announced shows it is probably a knee-jerk reaction and made at the spur of the moment and not clearly thought out.

The PM owes it to his own integrity and to the people of Sabah and all Malaysians to be forthright and transparent and explain in detail the declaration of the Special Security Area.

“SELAMATKAN SABAH TANAH AIRKU”

Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, Chairman of STAR Sabah

 

[BlackRiders]

The government has declared five districts in the east coast, as the Special Security Area Sabah. It aims to protect the sovereignty and security of the area.

 

[BlackRiders]

Content Warning : This official website of Team Kiram is poorly designed and contains gory images and splattered brains.

http://www.sandakan.com/


‘Sultan of Sulu’ adamant on Sabah claim

Mr Kiram says he feels a strong affinity with Sabah, which he used to visit for extended periods as a young boy when his father, Punjungan Kiram, stayed there as recognized by the Malaysian government from 1968 to 1980. “I can speak Malay fluently,” he says.

A promise unfulfilled by Malaysia First Prime Minister, says Raja Muda's son

Exclusive - By Raissa Robles

It was by chance that I met Shayeed Kiram, a son of Raja Muda (Crown Prince) Agbimuddin Kiram who is now in Sabah facing the Malaysian armed forces.

I wanted to take a photo of Dayang Dayang (Princess) Nazhra, daughter of Sultan Jamulul Kiram III, but a man was in the way. I politely asked him to stand aside. He did, quickly and meekly.

That was when Nazhra told me “that was Raja Muda’s son”.

I hastily apologized to the man — and then asked if I could interview him.

He said I could provided I did not show his entire face. I videoed the part below which I thought was most important.

Shayeed narrated how he and his family had resided in Sabah during his childhood.

They went there to accompany their grandfather, Sultan Punjungan – younger brother of Esmail Kiram – because Malaysia’s first prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman had made a promise to make Punjungan the Sultan of Sabah.

In other words, to recognize Punjungan who was then the Raja Muda of Sultan Esmail Kiram, as the head of one of the royal houses in the newly-federated state of Malaysia.

Shayeed recalled it was for this reason that Raja Muda Agbimuddin and his family stayed with Sultan Punjungan in Sabah for a decade, waiting for that promise to be fulfilled. Shayeed said he studied in an elementary school in Sabah.

It was also for this reason that his father’s journey to Lahad Datu, Sabah last month was a coming home.

 

[BlackRiders]

Content Warning : This website of Kiram contains gory images and splattered brains.

http://www.sandakan.com/

 

[BlackRiders]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Lahad_Datu_standoff#Google_search_results_alteration

 

[MidnightSun]

The video link of the beheading and chopping of fingers originally provided by laksaboy is DEAD.

http://www.datafilehost.com/download-8b8f3b6f.html


Wednesday March 13, 2013

Lahad Datu: Man in torture video not a member of Malaysian security forces

PETALING JAYA: The video which shows a man being tortured is not that of a member of the Malaysian security forces in Lahad Datu, police said.

The video, which has gone viral in social media websites and YouTube, showed a man’s fingers being cut and later beheaded supposedly involving a Malaysian security forces man in Lahad Datu.

However, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar has quashed the validity of the video, saying the man in the video was not a member of the Malaysian security forces.

“We discovered the video actually depicted a man from a foreign country. The incident occurred overseas.

“The man in the video is definitely not one of our security forces personnel,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Based on the uniform as well as the terrain depicted in the video, Khalid said it was not in Lahad Datu or anywhere else in Malaysia.

“Furthermore, the man in the video was not wearing a Malaysian security forces uniform.

“We hope the public will not be influenced by this video,” he said.

He added that the police have already formed a task force to track down those responsible.

“We will take action against those responsible (for spreading the video).

“Such graphic footage can cause panic and affect the morale of security personnel,” he said.

Khalid also advised the public, especially netizens, not to spread rumours or unconfirmed reports concerning Ops Daulat.

“We will release verified reports on Ops Daulat through press conferences and even on the police Facebook and Twitter pages,” he said.

“Rumours will only lead to trouble for everyone,” he added.


...............................................................................

Published: Monday March 4, 2013 MYT 6:29:00 PM
Updated: Monday March 4, 2013 MYT 6:33:13 PM

Fallen cop wanted to join police since young

SERIAN: ASP Michael Padel (pix), killed in an ambush in Semporna on Saturday, was a hyperactive child and wanted to join the police force since young.

His mother, Elizabeth Inat Rau, 62, said Michael who loved a challenge quit a health inspector's course after his application to join the police force was accepted.

"Michael inherited the warrior's blood from his father, Padel Sano who was a soldier (died in 1983).

“I received the sad news at 7pm on Sunday and am still reeling in shock," she told Bernama on Monday.

Elizabeth said the last time she met Michael was on Gawai Day 2012.

Michael, 36, was the youngest child and the only boy in the family.

Eldest sister, Vivian, 42, said although she understood the nature of Michael's job, she was saddened that he was killed in an incident.

Michael who served with the police force for over 10 years in Kota Kinabalu, Kunak and Semporna, leaves wife, Jabah Mingku, 35, and son, Macluie, 11.

Michael eldest sister, Vivian,(centre) being consoled by relatives while mother Elizabeth Inat (right), holds Michale's portrait at their village home in Kampung Tebakang.

His uncle, Bincent Najuh Rimo, 68, said Michael had showed interest in joining a uniformed outfit since childhood.

"I was a soldier then. I still remember Michael telling me he wanted to wear the green uniform just like mine," he said.

His kampung friends, Moses Bijai, 35, and Ah Cho, 43, said Michael's death is a big loss not only to his family, but also the Kampung Bidayuh Tebakang community.

"Michael was close to the villagers and always organise activities for them.

During Gawai Day last year, he set up barbecue, karaoke, live band, rafting and invited villagers of all races and religions to join,” he said - Bernama

..........................................

Berikut adalah senarai nama pegawai dan anggota Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) yang terkorban dalam insiden serangan membabitkan kumpulan bersenjata rakyat asing di Lahad Datu pada Jumaat dan Semporna, Sabtu lepas.

Lahad Datu :
------------
1. Sjn Sabarudin Daud, 46, dari Kem Ulu Kinta, Perak
2. ASP Zulkifli Mamat, 29, dari Kem Ulu Kinta, Perak


Semporna :
---------
1. Supt Ibrahim Lebar, 52, dari Cawangan Khas Bukit Aman
2. L/Kpl Mohd Azrul Tukiran, 27, dari Batalion 14 Pasukan Gerakan Am, Tawau
3. Sjn Abdul Azis Sakirun, 48, dari Batalion 14 Pasukan Gerakan Am, Tawau
4. Kpl Salam Togiran, 42, dari Cawangan Pengangkutan Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Tawau.
5. ASP Michael Padel, 36, Ketua Cawangan Khas Polis Daerah Semporna
6. Sjn Baharin Hamid, 49, dari Kontinjen Cawangan Khas Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontinjen, Sabah.

- Bernama

 

[MidnightSun]

Wednesday March 13, 2013

Lahad Datu: Muhyiddin: Affected residents to get RM1,000 each

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LAHAD DATU: Residents affected by the incidents of attacks by the militants will be given a special aid of RM1,000 each, says Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

He also said the Government would help rebuild or repair the houses of victims which were destroyed during the fighting.

“Public housing projects will be developed in affected areas if the villagers need to be relocated,” he said at Bandar Cenderawasih yesterday.

He also said the Education Ministry would assist students from the three schools within the Red Zones to resume their education, such as providing book and clothing assistance.

The three schools still closed are SK Lok Buani, SK Fajar Harapan and SK Tanjung Labian.

 

[MidnightSun]

Wednesday March 13, 2013

Lahad Datu: Soldier, two gunmen killed in Lahad Datu

Reports by P.K. KATHARASON, MUGUNTAN VANAR, PHILIP GOLINGAI, STEPHANIE LEE, SHAUN HO, ABDUL RAZAK AHMAD, SYED AZHAR, FARIK ZOLKEPLI and STEVEN DANIEL; with photos by AZHAR MAHFOF, NORMIMIE DIUN AND M. AZHAR ARIF.

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LAHAD DATU: A 36-hour lull in gunfire was shattered after dawn when shooting broke out near Kampung Tanjung Batu, killing a soldier and two Sulu gunmen.

The latest bloody encounter started when joint military and police units conducting mopping up operations near Sungai Nyamuk outside Tanduo area towards Kg Tanjung Batu spotted five gunmen at about 7.45am.

A gunbattle ensued and the five terrorists retreated, Armed Forces chief Jen Zulkifeli Mohd Zin said in Felda Sahabat here, about 15km from where the fighting took place.

The security forces pursued the enemy and tracked them down to a swampy area near a Felda oil palm plantation and a second gunfight flared up at 10.45am.

In the exchange of fire, one of our soldiers and two terrorists were killed, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib told a briefing for the media.

Jen Zulkifeli said the soldier 24-year-old Hurairah Ismail from Pasir Mas in Kelantan is the first armed forces personnel killed in action in Ops Daulat to wipe out the remnants of the Sulu group led by Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram whose fate is still unknown.

Hamza said that another gunman was believed to have been wounded.

He also said that another soldier, aged 35 and also from Kelantan, was injured in the gunbattle which occurred from about 9am to 1.50pm, “The soldier who was hit in the cheek is in stable condition.”

Although Tanduo village has been secured with the raising of the Malaysian flag and all landing points are under the control of the security forces, house-to-house search is ongoing at Kampung Tanjung Batu, Kampung Tanjung Labian and Kampung Sungai Bilis covering an area of 10 sq km.

Earlier, Hamza said that more bodies were being removed from Tanduo that had been discovered previously.

According to the latest information, there were up to 15 bodies buried there, he said.

“We believe there are more bodies buried in the same spot and in other graves nearby. Our men will be going back to investigate,” he added.

He confirmed that the body of the self-styled General Musa was recovered at Kampung Tanjung Batu along with another yesterday morning.

This brings the number of bodies recovered so far to 23. The death toll of the terrorists is 57, with nine Malaysian security forces personnel killed in the conflict.

Police are meanwhile continuing their sweep of sympathisers of the armed Sulu group.

 

[MidnightSun]

Published: Wednesday March 13, 2013 MYT 8:27:00 AM
Updated: Wednesday March 13, 2013 MYT 2:48:03 PM

Lahad Datu: Bodies of two soldiers arrive for burial in hometowns

By FARIK ZOLKEPLI

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SUBANG JAYA: The bodies of fallen heroes Prebet Ahmad Hurairah Ismail, 24, and Prebet Ahmad Farhan Ruslan, 21, arrived at the Royal Malaysian Air Force Base here at 8am Wednesday.

The remains of the Kelantan-born heroes were received by more than 500 Armed Forces personnel.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak led the list of dignitaries who paid their last respects to the fallen heroes.

Pbt Ahmad Hurairah was killed in a gunbattle with Sulu gunmen at Sungai Nyamuk near Kg Tanjung Batu in Lahad Datu on Tuesday.

Pbt Farhan Ruslan was killed, also on Tuesday, when the truck he was transporting supplies in went out of control and crashed while heading to Bandar Cenderawasih, in the Felda Sahabat region, from Lahad Datu town.

Najib leading a group of dignitaries to pay their last respects to fallen heroes Prebet Ahmad Hurairah Ismail and Prebet Ahmad Farhan Ruslan at the Royal Malaysian Air Force Base in Subang on Wednesday. - Bernama

Later, more than 3,000 people were at the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Kota Baru this morning to receive the bodies of the two national heroes, Bernama reported.

Those present included Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin, Army Chief General Tan Sri Zulkifli Zainal Abidin and Kelantan Police Chief Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman.

Shortly after the aircraft landed, the remains of both soldiers were taken to the hangar where they were accorded military honours before the bodies were taken to their respective home towns for burial.

Ahmad Hurairah's remains were taken to his parents' house in Kampung Bayu Lalang, Pasir Mas before burial at the Kampung Lalang Muslim Cemetery nearby.

The remains of Ahmad Farhan were taken to his parents' home in Perumahan Desa Darulnaim II, Pasir Tumboh for burial at the Pasir Tumbuh Muslim Cemetery.

 

[MidnightSun]

Published: Wednesday March 13, 2013 MYT 12:52:00 PM
Updated: Wednesday March 13, 2013 MYT 1:31:54 PM

Lahad Datu: Sabah CPO - Sulu group leader Azzimudie still alive and in Ops Daulat area

By SHAUN HO

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib

LAHAD DATU: Police are still tracking Azzimudie Kiram, the leader of the armed Sulu group, and are confident he is still in the Ops Daulat operation area.

"As a leader, he will not run and leave his people by themselves here. He must lead them," Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib told reporters during the morning press conference here Wednesday.

Comm Hamza also said police would first verify the identities of the families living in Kg Tanduo's 10 houses before allowing them to return.

"We would first verify whether those living there are Malaysians or foreigners, and if the land they had occupied was private or whether it belongs to the Government.

"If they have no rights on that land, we may not allow them (to return)," he said.

He also said that police were still investigating the identity of the teenage boy who was shot and killed in Kg Tanjung Labian on Day 6 of Ops Daulat.

Malaysian security forces launched an all-out offensive on March 5 against armed Sulu militants from southern Philippines holed up near Lahad Datu, Sabah, after a two-week stand-off failed to end peacefully.

The ongoing Ops Daulat to flush the group out has resulted in the deaths of 57 gunmen and nine security forces personnel so far.

 

[MidnightSun]

Armed Kiram followers intercepted by Philippine navy

March 13, 2013

The navy teams found weapons and ammunition aboard the two vessels.

MANILA: Two boats carrying suspected followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III were intercepted Wednesday morning off Tawi-Tawi province by the Philippine Navy, television and radio reports said.

According to reports, the Navy ships blocked the boats and were expected to bring the passengers to Bongao town in Tawi-Tawi for further investigation.

A report aired on GMA News TV’s News To Go said that although the initial information did not say how many were aboard the two boats, Navy teams found weapons and ammunition aboard the vessels.

An initial investigation showed the two boats came from Sabah, according to the radio report.

A separate report aired on radio dzBB, however, said it was not immediately clear if the suspected Kiram supporters were heading for Sabah or were coming from there.

Philippine security forces have been patrolling the boundary of Mindanao and Sabah to prevent Kiram’s followers from going there.

Earlier, the two Filipinos aboard a boat from Sabah, who were intercepted near Taganak Island in Tawi-Tawi, were already brought to Bongao for further investigation, according to Gaston’s report.

They are suspected supporters of the sultan who escaped from strife-torn Sabah, the same report added.

Malaysian security forces are still conducting operations in Sabah to flush out armed followers of Kiram who are still there.

Agencies

 

[MidnightSun]

Lahad Datu tragedy: ‘Govt must apologise’

G Vinod | March 13, 2013

Military intelligence failed to gather information to pre-empt the intrusion, says a former army deputy chief.

PETALING JAYA: The government must apologise to all Malaysians for its mistakes in the initial stage of handling the incursion in Lahad Datu, Sabah, said former army deputy chief, Lieutenant- General Abd Ghaffir Abd Hamid.

Speaking at a press conference held at PKR headquarters here, Ghaffir also said the tragedy in Lahad Datu was caused by the failure of the military intelligence to gather information to pre-empt the intrusion by the Filipinos.

“Since 2000, the Defence Staff Intelligence Division [BSPT] was used for political purposes, instead of gathering information on domestic and external threats.

“On top of that, we were not decisive when the intruders arrived on our shores in the early stages,” he said.

Also present were PKR deputy president and vice-president, Azmin Ali and Nurul Izzah Anwar.

To date, about 10 Malaysian security personnel had lost their lives in the armed intrusion in Lahad Datu.

Hundreds of Sabahans have left their homes and are living in shelters while waiting for the conflict to end.

Ghaffir said that BSPT’s objective has been blurred due to political interference, rendering it to lose its ability to gather vital intelligence on national security.

He also said that it was within Malaysia’s purview to act against the aggressors as it deemed fit, as per the rights given by the United Nations.

“But it was only after 23 days and two deaths that we acted against the armed foreigners. It’s definitely a failure of our decision-makers,” he said.

‘Stay out of conflict’

Ghaffir added that if the military and the police were given independence to act, the matter could have been resolved fast.

“Politicians must stay out of the conflict zone. If not, the security forces’ objective become cluttered.

“They must understand this. Even in the US, politicians stay away from US military’s operations,” said Ghaffir.

During the early stages of the intrusion, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein dismissed claims that the Sulu men were dangerous, describing them as “old men wearing sarongs and slippers”.

On a related matter, Nurul also urged Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to call for an emergency parliamentary sitting to discuss the Lahad Datu incident.

“Please give us a chance to pay respects to our fallen heroes. The intrusion is a national crisis and we need a bipartisan solution to this,” said the Lembah Pantai MP.

 

[MidnightSun]

Show full respect for human rights, govt told

Lisa J. Ariffin | March 13, 2013

Suhakam calls for human rights principles to be respected in the arrest of 97 militant intruders.

PETALING JAYA: The government was urged to ensure fundamental human rights principles are fully respected in the arrest of the 97 persons suspected to be connected with Sulu militants.

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) today reminded Putrajaya that it was important for all parties to exercise prudence when responding to the crisis to avoid any misunderstandings which could worsen the situation.

“While the commission looks forward to seeing the displaced residents return to their homes and resume their normal routines, it strongly urges the authorities to continue protecting the residents through the existing security measures,” said Suhakam chairman Hasmy Agam.

Suhakam also expressed deep concern about the safety and well-being of all Sabahans, “particularly those who are directly affected by the ongoing security crisis”.

“These include residents who have been traumatised by the horrific attacks that took place in the crisis areas and those who have been displaced and relocated to community halls,” Agam said.

He praised the government for providing various assistance and support to the affected groups and hoped Putrajaya will continue to ensure that the basic needs and welfare are given primary consideration in its effort to overcome the crisis.

He also hoped “the relevant authority will continue to provide regular updates and information to the public on the status of the crisis and the events as they unfold”.

One week after ‘Ops Daulat’, the police had announced that Kampung Tanduo, the landing site of militant intruders a month ago, was free of the terrorists from southern Philippines.

Ninety-seven people were detained for suspected involvement with the terrorists, said Sabah Police Commissioner Hamza Taib.

He added security forces have also held 122 people for being in the prohibited zone of ‘Ops Daulat’.