The followers of the sultanate of Sulu in Sabah were unscathed by the massive assault launched by Malaysian security forces against them on Tuesday, Sultan Jamalul Kiram III and his daughter said in Manila this morning.
Princess Jacel Kiram (right) said her uncle, Raja Muda Azzimuddie Kiram, who led some 200 followers to Sabah early last month, told them in a phone call last night that "he is in a safe place".
"The Malaysians said the royal force has been defeated, but it turns out this isn't true because we talked to Azzimuddie for about 30 seconds around 10pm and he is in a safe place," the princess said.
Recounting the conversation, the sultan said his brother told them, "They're okay. He said they are now eating good food but the hard part was when they were being pursued... deciding where to go... bombs were dropped on them. But look, in God's mercy, the bombs did not explode on them but on the Malaysian security forces."
Until this afternoon, there was no word from Malaysian authorities about the casualties or the result of the operation to flush out Azzimuddie and his group.
Princess Jacel Kiram (right) said her uncle, Raja Muda Azzimuddie Kiram, who led some 200 followers to Sabah early last month, told them in a phone call last night that "he is in a safe place"."The Malaysians said the royal force has been defeated, but it turns out this isn't true because we talked to Azzimuddie for about 30 seconds around 10pm and he is in a safe place," the princess said.
Recounting the conversation, the sultan said his brother told them, "They're okay. He said they are now eating good food but the hard part was when they were being pursued... deciding where to go... bombs were dropped on them. But look, in God's mercy, the bombs did not explode on them but on the Malaysian security forces."
Until this afternoon, there was no word from Malaysian authorities about the casualties or the result of the operation to flush out Azzimuddie and his group.
'Mopping up operations slow'
After initially saying the assault had "totally defeated" Azzimuddie 's group, Malaysian security officials acknowledged yesterday that "mopping up operations" were proceeding slowly because of the possibility the sultanate's followers were still in the combat zone.
They also acknowledged the possibility of the sultanate's followers having slipped through their security cordon.
Jamalul (left in photo) also said he could not stop anyone from going to Sabah to join those who went there almost a month ago to press their claim to the territory.
Earlier, an official of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) had said veteran fighters of MNLF had gone to join the group led by Azzimuddie.
MNLF's Islamic Command Council chairperson Muhajab Hashim said they had not sanctioned the voyage of their fighters to Malaysia but supported the sultan's efforts to reclaim Sabah.
Interviewed in his home at Maharlika Village, Taguig City, Kiram said it was not only members of the Tausug tribe, to which he belongs, but also Yakan and Sama who want to go to Sabah if they could.
"We cannot stop them," Jamalul said.
Asked if he himself would send more of his followers to Sabah, Jamalul said: "Our companions there are enough. They did not go their to fight, but to settle down. You know how hard it is in the Philippines, most of them are fisherman, some farmers."
They also acknowledged the possibility of the sultanate's followers having slipped through their security cordon.
Jamalul (left in photo) also said he could not stop anyone from going to Sabah to join those who went there almost a month ago to press their claim to the territory.Earlier, an official of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) had said veteran fighters of MNLF had gone to join the group led by Azzimuddie.
MNLF's Islamic Command Council chairperson Muhajab Hashim said they had not sanctioned the voyage of their fighters to Malaysia but supported the sultan's efforts to reclaim Sabah.
Interviewed in his home at Maharlika Village, Taguig City, Kiram said it was not only members of the Tausug tribe, to which he belongs, but also Yakan and Sama who want to go to Sabah if they could.
"We cannot stop them," Jamalul said.
Asked if he himself would send more of his followers to Sabah, Jamalul said: "Our companions there are enough. They did not go their to fight, but to settle down. You know how hard it is in the Philippines, most of them are fisherman, some farmers."
MNLF won't stop its fighters
During a visit to Jamalul yesterday, MNLF founder Nur Misuari (right), himself a Tausug, said he could not stop his fighters from going to Sabah if they felt it was their "duty" to do so.It remains unclear how many, if any, have managed to evade the naval blockade put up by both the Philippine and Malaysian navies to prevent more people from entering Sabah and joining up with Azzimuddie's group.
Earlier, Philippine officials said they had turned back 70 Filipinos trying to slip through the blockade.
The sultan reiterated his brother's declaration that he was willing to die to reclaim and defend their ancestral land.
"Their farewell to me was, ‘Forget about us if we do not return.' I accept that," the sultan said.
- InterAksyon
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