The authorities today warned the armed intruders claiming to be from the royal army of the Sulu sultanate to immediately lay down arms and surrender or face dire consequences.
Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the gunmen had no alternative following the gun battle yesterday in Kampung Tanduo, 130km from here, which resulted in the death of 12 of them and two police commandos.
He spoke to reporters at the Felda Sahabat 16 plantation, 130km from here, after arriving here today. He is expected to remain in Sabah until the matter of the intrusion is settled.
Soon after arriving at Felda Sahabat 16, Hishammuddin and inspector-general of police Ismail Omar were briefed by Sabah police chief Hamza Taib on the gun battle in Kampung Tanduo in Felda Sahabat 17.
In the incident, which occurred at about 10 am, 12 of the armed intruders and two police commandos were killed. Three police commandos were also injured.
It is believed that the bulk of the Sulu group is still holed up in Kampung Tanduo.
No other option left, says IGP
At the same news conference, Ismail said the police had no other option but to settle the incident as soon as possible.
"After what happened yesterday, the situation remains under control. The intruders have been cordoned off in Kampung Tanduo by the security forces. We are in control of the situation.
"The group is trapped in Kampung Tanduo. Given this situation, I warn them to give up. We have given them much time. Their action gives us no other option.
"I do not have any other option but to arrest them. I again ask them to lay down arms and surrender. Otherwise, I will have to resort to drastic and necessary measures to end the situation," he said.
He also said that the intruders who surrender would face action under Malaysian law as they have committed a most serious offence.
Ismail said it was life as usual in Lahad Datu and there was no curfew.
The area of police operations was confined to Kampung Tanduo, he added. He said the police had stepped up security and had set up roadblocks.
Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the gunmen had no alternative following the gun battle yesterday in Kampung Tanduo, 130km from here, which resulted in the death of 12 of them and two police commandos.
He spoke to reporters at the Felda Sahabat 16 plantation, 130km from here, after arriving here today. He is expected to remain in Sabah until the matter of the intrusion is settled. Soon after arriving at Felda Sahabat 16, Hishammuddin and inspector-general of police Ismail Omar were briefed by Sabah police chief Hamza Taib on the gun battle in Kampung Tanduo in Felda Sahabat 17.
In the incident, which occurred at about 10 am, 12 of the armed intruders and two police commandos were killed. Three police commandos were also injured.
It is believed that the bulk of the Sulu group is still holed up in Kampung Tanduo.
No other option left, says IGP
At the same news conference, Ismail said the police had no other option but to settle the incident as soon as possible.
"After what happened yesterday, the situation remains under control. The intruders have been cordoned off in Kampung Tanduo by the security forces. We are in control of the situation.
"The group is trapped in Kampung Tanduo. Given this situation, I warn them to give up. We have given them much time. Their action gives us no other option. "I do not have any other option but to arrest them. I again ask them to lay down arms and surrender. Otherwise, I will have to resort to drastic and necessary measures to end the situation," he said.
He also said that the intruders who surrender would face action under Malaysian law as they have committed a most serious offence.
Ismail said it was life as usual in Lahad Datu and there was no curfew.
The area of police operations was confined to Kampung Tanduo, he added. He said the police had stepped up security and had set up roadblocks.
In Manila, Philippine President Benigno Aquino urged the gunmen to surrender immediately.
“To our citizens in Lahad Datu, from the very start our objective has been to avoid the loss of lives and the shedding of blood. However, you did not join us in this objective,” he said.
“Because of the path you have taken, what we have been trying to avoid has come to pass,” he said.
“Because of the path you have taken, what we have been trying to avoid has come to pass,” he said.
“If you have grievances, the path you chose was wrong. The just, and indeed, the only correct thing for you to do is to surrender."
No more grace period
Malaysian PM Najib Razak, whose government has been embarrassed by the security breach, said in the shootout's aftermath that he told police and armed forces to take whatever action was necessary to end the impasse.
"Now there is no grace period for the group to leave," he was quoted as saying by Malaysian media after paying his last respects to the two slain police commandos at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base in Subang today.
"I telephoned President Benigno Aquino III of the Philippines last night to state the stand of the Malaysian government on the matter after the gun battle yesterday. "I said the government felt that the time to consider the group's demands had lapsed and that they had the option of surrendering or facing the action of the authorities and security forces," he said.
As such, the government would not proceed with negotiations or consider their demands, he said.
Najib declined to comment when asked how much time would be given to the intruders to surrender themselves.
"That I cannot reveal for tactical reasons," he said.
But the deadly clash drew criticism from opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.
"Why is our government lax about national security?" he asked in a statement late Friday, adding that the government must explain what transpired in the bloody clash claiming two Malaysian lives.
Intruders to face the law
Muslim-majority Malaysia had previously avoided tough talk, expressing hope the intruders would leave peacefully.
But even if they give up, they will face Malaysian prosecution, Hamza (right) said, after he met with Malaysia's home minister and other top security officials.
Local residents were staying indoors and the usually bustling coastal town of Lahad Datu was quiet with most shops closed on today.
Georgina Paulino, a 50-year-old street vendor, complained that her business has been badly hit.
"People are afraid they could be shot if they come out," she told AFP.
The Filipinos, who are estimated to number between 100 and 300, sailed from their remote islands to press Jamalul Kiram III's claim to Sabah.
Kiram, 74, claims to be the heir to the Islamic sultanate of Sulu, which once controlled parts of the southern Philippines and a portion of Borneo.
The sultanate leased the land in 1878 to the British North Borneo
Company, which passed it to Malaysia in 1963. Kuala Lumpur currently pays the sultan RM5,300 per year in token rent.
Company, which passed it to Malaysia in 1963. Kuala Lumpur currently pays the sultan RM5,300 per year in token rent.
Princess Jaycel, daughter of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, said
in Manila that the group would remain in Lahad Datu despite the
shootout with Malaysian forces.
in Manila that the group would remain in Lahad Datu despite the
shootout with Malaysian forces.
"After we buried our brothers and sister at sundown, every one of
the 224 left decided to die in Lahad Datu in pursuit of their dreams
and aspirations," she said.
the 224 left decided to die in Lahad Datu in pursuit of their dreams
and aspirations," she said.
"They have decided to put everything in the hands of Allah."
- Agencies
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