Except for the sound of explosions at 1am and 7.30am, the Lahad Datu area was calm as the ‘Ops Daulat’ offensive to flush out armed Sulu intruders entered its fifth day today.
No clashes were reported between the security forces and the militants, who had holed up in Kampung Tanduo and Kampung Tanjung Batu, 130km from Lahad Datu, since Feb 12.
People were going about their daily activities as usual in this town and Semporna, about 150km from Lahad Datu.
The explosions occurred in the red zone area of ‘Ops Daulat’ in Sahabat 16 Felda plantation, prompting Felda settler Norashikin Sarbani, 33, to say that he was worried for a moment but realised that the gunfire could have come from the security forces engaged in the mopping-up and search operation.
Helicopters were also heard hovering above Felda Sahabat plantation.
Fifty-two Sulu militants have been killed in the offensive, which was launched on Tuesday after the intruders killed eight policemen, two in Kampung Tanduo and six in Kampung Simunul, Semporna, on March 1 and 2 respectively.
Felda settler Mujhi Bakrun, 39, expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for having launched the offensive to flush out the militants.
Meanwhile, 1Malaysia Putera Club president Abd Azeez Abd Rahim is expected to arrive at the Felda Sahabat plantation to distribute humanitarian aid to almost 2,000 people relocated from the operations zone.
- Bernama
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