Another police officer killed in gun battle in Semporna

Mkini

According to Bernama, one police officer is believed to be dead while another was injured. However, this has yet to be confirmed.Malaysian security forces came under attack and were involved in another firefight, this time with armed men in Semporna, about 150km from Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu, Sabah.

It is learnt that the gunmen had planned to attack Lahad Datu police station, said the national news agency.

Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar (left) when contacted byBernama confirmed the incident but refused further comment.

However, another Bernama report said two police officers were injured after being ambushed and shot at by unidentified suspects.

Unlike its earlier report, it did not mention any death.

Bernama quoted Sabah police commissioner Hamza Taib saying the two were among 40 police officers involved in an operation which began at 4pm, before they were shot by the suspects at about 7pm.

The police team was part of an operation to detect the individuals involved in the shooting incident in Kampung Sri Jaya Siminul, Semporna this evening.

“However, I don’t think this has anything to do with the intrusion issue in Kampung Tanduo in Lahad Datu,” he told reporters.

Hamza (right) also denied that the Semporna police headquarters was attacked, but insisted that the situation in Semporna was under control and no curfew was declared.

He said no arrest was made so far and the case was being investigated.

Unknown number of gunmen

Meanwhile, in Kuala Lumpur, Ismail Omar, in the PDRM social website, confirmed the shooting incident in Kampung Sri Jaya
Siminul, Semporna.

He said the incident followed the inspection carried out by the police on premises there.

“Police, however, have yet to ascertain the actual number of those involved in the incident. It is believed that the number is not more than 10,” he said.

Semporna is a coastal town notable for being a stopover site for tourist heading to Sipadan Island, a world-renowned dive site.

Yesterday, two VAT 69 police commandos, ASP Zulkifli Mamat, 29 and Sergeant Sabarudin Daud, were killed, while three others were injured in a gunfire with the armed intruders in Kampung Tandou.

Twelve of the armed intruders from the Philippines were also killed.

The Filipinos, who are estimated to number between 100 and 300, sailed from their remote islands to press Sulu sultan Jamalul Kiram III’s claim to Sabah.