Michael Kaung and Azman Habu
Police searching for a group of gunmen in Kampung Sri Jaya in the Simunul area in Semporna may have walked into a trap that was set for them.
According to sources, the gunmen appeared ready for the police raid and opened fire as the police were on the narrow single-plank walkways linking the various houses on stilts.
Six policemen, including an officer, and six unidentified gunmen were killed during the firefight that occurred around 7pm yesterday.
Police have encircled the village, one of many that are perched on stilts over the sea, to track down remaining gunmen.
Inspector General of Police Ismail Omar confirmed that his men may have been lured in by decoys and fired upon as they entered the water village.
He said that police had moved in based on a tip off that there were armed men in the vicinity.
“Based on this information, a police team from the Semporna district police headquarters entered the place but were ambushed when they arrived,” he told a press conference in Felda Sabahat Residence, Lahad Datu today.
The Semporna shooting comes just after the killing of two policemen on Friday in Lahad Datu, where a shootout with armed intruders loyal to the Sulu Sultanate took place.
Ismail said police were unsure if the two incidents are linked.
He also said the police had arrested three men, one armed with a knife, who were trying to slip through a security cordon around Kampung Tanduo in Lahad Datu late Saturday. They are being interrogated.
The death toll has now climbed to 26 in two days with eight policemen killed in the line of duty both in Lahad Datu and Semporna. Friday also saw 12 gunmen loyal to the 74-year-old Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III killed. This group had ‘invaded’ Lahad Datu on Feb 12 to stake a claim on Sabah.
A source said that police are also “keen to get in touch with Mohd Akjan Ali Muhammad, the businessman who proclaimed himself as the ‘Sultan of Sulu’ in 2011. Akjan is also a former Umno member who has the loyalty of a large number of Filipinos in the state.
Akjan, according to sources, however cannot be located.
There are also unconfirmed reports that the General Operations Force (GOF) centre in Kinarut near here, a complex that was contracted to Akjan, is on heightened alert as is much of the police stations throughout Sabah.
There is a large Filipino refugee settlement in Kinarut, a small town located about 20 kilometres south of Kota Kinabalu.
Kota Kinabalu police chief ACP Javeh Dikun meanwhile said reports of a group of around 500 Filipinos gathering in Sepanggar, the main port about 30 minutes drive from the state capital are false. He advised the public to ignore rumours circulating in the social media.
Residents fleeing Semporna
Meanwhile in SEMPORNA, panicked residents here, especially those living near the seaside settlement of Siminul, a collection of houses on stilts over the sea, are fleeing the area following Saturday night’s gun battle which saw the death of the five policemen and five others injured.
Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman also told reporters that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had assured that security in Sabah was being given top priority following Saturday night’s shooting.
“From my side, I will be working closely with the Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to monitor all areas apart from Lahad Datu,” he said.
Musa said Sabah police commissioner Hamza Taib and the army were also gearing up operations statewide.
“I am also calling for cooperation and assistance from local leaders to tone down the sentiments and numerous rumours on what is happening in Sabah,” he said, adding that people should stop speculating and spreading rumours and increasing anxiety.
In Tawau, residents are also running scared.
“The Chinese community here are worried,” said a journalist based there.
In another development, eye-witnesses claimed that another shooting incident happened in Kampung Pelangi, Bukit Garam near Kinabatangan, about an hour’s drive outside Lahad Datu. This report could not be confirmed.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Sultan Sulu said that its forces on Sabah had taken hostage a Malaysian police officer, two soldiers and a government official.
“We advised the people on the ground to take care of them, to feed them, so that in case there shall be international agencies to investigate the matter we can present those four captured government officials of Malaysia as witnesses to the atrocities committed by the government of Malaysia,” the group’s spokesman, Abraham Idjirani, said Sunday.
Hornbill Unleashed 
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Comment by fishing supplies — May 2, 2013 @ 4:56 PM |
And according to Nur Misuari,they came in peace to claim what’s rightly their??,Misuari ,where the Fork you got that idea,muslim brothers should help one another, and coming with SLR and Mortars,should we Malaysian Home Minister and IGP,Military Field commanders held a doa selamat??? Stupid Forking Minister,and I’m to be blame for voting him,not anymore.
Comment by Lok1 — March 5, 2013 @ 5:37 AM |
Kata tian chua memang bodoh tapi kerajaan United Melayu Not Original sama sama bodoh kerana semua kenyataan dari NGO bodoh di TV1 2 dan 3 semua nya berbau politik kalau tidak kenapa bakar bendera PKR bukan PKR yang buat kenyataan dan kenyataan nya pun doi pusing oleh media bodoh. Ya tian bodoh.
Comment by media rakyat — March 4, 2013 @ 8:31 PM |
I just hope and pray none of the 1 million over illegal immigrants in Sabah given citizenship and or their children are employed as army or police. Blood is still thicker than water in the event of a conflict between Malaysia and our neighbours the Philippines and Indonesia.
Comment by Irene Kana — March 4, 2013 @ 4:49 PM |
Betul cakap itu. Many of these illegal-turn -legal people have had their childrens or grand children service in the government offices, police and army. The project IC was asking trouble for ourself just in order to fulfill Mahatir hatred over Sabah’s non-Muslim races and parties. He wants UMNO every where any way. We eat the sour fruit he planted. Police and army must monitor these members of their forces
Give salute to the army and pray for them. Time you will show you are the protector and defender of the country the professional ways. Wake up Malaysia and Malaysian, and be strong.
Comment by Angry Sabah Man — March 5, 2013 @ 6:28 AM |
A BIT OF HISTORY- COMMUNIST BOGEY MAN NOW SEEN AS “NATIONALIST”
The comment by Edward, M reveals a racial interpretation of “communists”, presumably in Malaya and Sarawak- and continues the British Malayan demonisation of the communists and their objectives.
The practitioners of communist ideas included Malays Chinese Indians in Malaya and also included Dayaks in Sarawak. The Chairman of the CPM up to 1987 was a Malay. The commander of the anti-Malaysia resistance freedom fighters the Rajang People’s Army of North Kalimantan (PARAKU) was an ex-Iban ranger named Ubong ak Nuing. Hope this does not surprise readers.
They believed in creating an egalitarian society free from racism and economic exploitation of the people by first liberating Sarawak and Sabah from forerign rule. They fought for independence from 1962 to 1990. But the British and UMNO demonised them as something alien – although very much home grown.
RPK recently said that even communists were nationalists who fought for Malayan independence. The communists were the main force which resisted the Japanese in Malaya after the British failed to do so.
Similarly, it was the communists were the real patriots and nationalists who fought against the British Malayans invasion of Sabah and Sarawak to impose Malaysia on us in 1963.
That was 50 years ago this year.
And what did we achieve with “independence in Malaysia”? Look at what is happening in Sabah- poverty plus foreign invasion- as opposed to “security and prosperity” promised to us in Malaysia.
50 years is to long for anyone to continue being conned by the Malayan colonialists occupying our country.
It is time to demand de-colonisation of Sabah and Sarawak!
Comment by ANTI-MALAYAN COLONIALISM! — March 4, 2013 @ 2:29 PM |
Anti-Malayan Colonialism. Ubong anak Nuing was never a Commander. He was only a Deputy appointed in 1977. Then again it was only an attempt to lure support from the Iban Communities. In NKPA he commanded little authority. The communists at that time were not freedom fighters (they had bigger aganda) and Ubong anak Nuing may have thought that he was a freedom fighter. But in my book he was not. They employed hit-and-run tactic. I know, I was with Rajang Security Command (RASCOM) at that time.
Comment by edward, m — March 4, 2013 @ 11:15 PM |
MALAYA TOTALLY FAILED TO PROTECT SABAH FROM FOREIGN INVASION AS A TRADE OFF FOR SABAH INDEPENDENCE IN MALAYSIA FORMATION 1963
IF a foreign armed force comes and illegally occupies and claim your land- this is an invasion.
The Sulu invasion and claim on Sabah comes with great timing on the 50th anniversary of Malaysia’s formation this year. Those rebels nutured secretly by UMNO have now come back to bite it.
The Sulu claim and armed occupation of some villages shows how Malaysia under UMNO rule have failed to defend Sabah and also Sarawak territory and sovereignty from foreign invasion which it had promised to do so as an enticement for the formation of Malaysia.
The “standoff” is timely to remind us how the British/Malayan Malaysia formation proposals were opposed on 3 fronts – the local resistance to Malaysia and the Indonesian and Philippines opposition to Malaysia.
The “Foreign invasion plus communist takeover” was a scare campaign which Britain and Malaysia used as their corner stone argument for the formation of Malaysia. They exploited the Indonesian Ganyang Malaysia confrontation, the anti-Malaysia Brunei Uprising and the Sarawak guerrilla national independence war to frightened the people. At that time the Philippines also laid a claim on Sabah. All this were handy reasons to scare the people with foreign invasion threats.
It is a known fact that Malaya in cahoots with Britain had help to forment rebellion in the Southern Philippines to counter the Philippines government’s Sabah claim.
Malaya has been in breach of all the solemn promises and agreements to form Malaysia by harbouring training and arming S. Philippines rebel groups for some 50 years!
So in exchange for our independence UMNO has blatantly abused the pre-Malaysia agreements namely the 18/20 Points Agreement and understandings that Sabah and Sarawak entrusted their peace and security to Malaya by giving up their most valuable independence.
It serves to remind all of us who are still deluding ourselves that we have any “independence in Malaysia” and that we never had a real referendum to decide on becoming part of Malaysia!
Malaysia was forced on us as many were saying 50 year ago. We were too weak to stand up to Britain and Malaya’s bullying with invasion threats and pushing us into Malaysia hastily after the anti-Malaysia Brunei Uprising.
Since Malaysia was so force on us without freedom to decided or whether to accept or reject the British Malayan bilateral Malaysia proposal, Malaysia was not formed by the free will and decision of the people. They were not ready then.
Further a formal Malaysia Constitution was never completed as was agreed on.
For all these reasons Malaysia exists illegally and by fact of Malaya’s military occupation of Sabah and Sarawak.
Sabah became independent on 31 August 1963 and Sarawak on 22 July. They should revert back to this situation by re-asserting their independence.
It serves to remind all of us who are still deluding ourselves that we have any “independence in Malaysia” that we never had a real referendum to decide on becoming part of Malaysia!
Malaysia was forced on us as many were saying 50 year ago. We were too weak to stand up to Britain and Malaya’s bullying with invasion threats and pushing us into Malaysia hastily after the anti-Malaysia Brunei Uprising.
Since Malaysia was so force on us. It is a denial of our freedom to decide on whether to accept or reject the British Malayan bilateral Malaysia proposal. Malaysia therefore was not formed by the free will and decision of the people. They were not ready then.
Further a formal Malaysia Constitution was never prepared as was agreed on.
Sabah and Sarawak were invaded and occupied by Malaya since 1963.
For all these reasons Malaysia exists illegally and by fact of Malaya’s military occupation of Sabah and Sarawak.
Sabah became independent on 31 August 1963 and Sarawak on 22 July. They should go to the UN and demand de-colonisation and re-gain their independence.
Comment by Anon — March 4, 2013 @ 2:08 PM |
This is the definitely the result of Project IC. I wont be surprised that we may be attacked by the Indons in the near future. The person responsible responsible for this is non other than the mastermind of Project IC, the one and only Dr M. And today he is talking as if he administers the country. Dr. M, please shut up now. You have done more damage then good to this country of ours. You seem to blame others (especially Anwar) as if you are sinless and you have never ever sinned. Dr M, It wont be not too long before your demise, so repent for all the sins that you have commited. I remember seeing you on TV after your coronary bypass, and how you cried, pls recall that and stop all these sinful acts.
I suspect one of the reasons why the Malaysian security forces are hesitant to wipe out or push back the intruders is because of the Project IC. Over hundred thousands of ICs may have been given to Philippino Muslims. Say what you like, when their own countrymen (the invaders) are killed, would you think that these IC recipients have no sentiments at all?
The Malaysian government could be afraid of an uprising by the intruders and the recipients of the Project IC, right in the heart of Sabah. Too much has already been done by the TRAITORS of this country. The invasion has begun long before we all realised it.
Comment by Hairu — March 4, 2013 @ 1:43 PM |
Nasi sudah jadi bubur. But wait. It’s not too late. My suggestion is that once PR comes in power, a new I/C should be issue to all citizen of Malaysia. Even though it’s a costly exercise, to me, this is the only solution. But this time, each and every individual have to produce their BIRTH CERTIFICATE, without compromise. If there is no BIRTH CERTIFICATE, then NO NRIC. Registration Department will not entertain those who come in without these papers, and the BC must be legitimate. Those illegals, but with fake IC will be send to their homeland, without excuse. TO SAFE GUARD THE INTEREST OF THE RAKYAT.
Comment by Winnie — March 4, 2013 @ 2:23 PM |
This kind of thing will never happen in Singapore, and if it does happen, it will be solved within a few minutes.
China can solve this kind of problem in a few seconds .. no sweat.
Bodohland can only handle peaceful demo … vote for PR
Comment by tigeryk — March 4, 2013 @ 1:12 PM |
Ya kah? Why one Division of the Elite Singa army fooled by a 1-legged terrorist Mas Selamat? Was he an agent of the Singa gomen?
Comment by Napolean Sulu — March 4, 2013 @ 1:42 PM |
PDRM is an expert when it comes to things involving money such as traffic summons, AES and etc but when it does not involve money such as snatch thieves, mat rempits, etc, it is secondary to them thus explaining their current capacity and the increase in street crimes here. Acting to a tip off is the best they can do to at least show that they are working. However i feel sad for those who fought bravely and those who had died to protect Malaysian soil. I don’t blame them here, it just that I blame the system where they are attached to. I also personally believe that army was kept away from the beginning as the government knows that they are not well equiped especially with submarines that is not up to mark. nuri helicopters and other similar purchases to arm the army/military. Again i don’t blame the military here, i blame the system that they are attached to.
Comment by Surendran — March 4, 2013 @ 11:44 AM |
Let us all Christians and Churches start praying fervently and earnestly for the peace and safety of Malaysia and Malaysia. Let us all united all in body, heart, spirit and soul, regardless of political, racial and society backgrounds, in our prayer for God to restore the safety of our beloved country Malaysia. Believing that He send forth His Holy Angels and Heavenly Army to protect us, and hold us with His strong arms to defeat our enemy and intruder to our land that He has given us. We also ask of His forgiveness and pardon for all we have sinned against Him. He will give direction to our armed forces and police to handle the intruders. When we start our prayers with praise, thanks and worship to His Heavenly Throne, He sends down confusion into camps of our enemy. His words are today as powerful as the time of the Old Testament, and His promises as real as in the New Testament. Let us all pray for Sabah, Malaysian in Sabah, also pray for those intruders that they aware and repent of their wrong doing, so God is fast in restoring peace, harmony and order to Sabah and Malaysia.
God Blesses All. Let all praise, honour and authority due His Name, for ever and ever Amen
“God’s wills are above all human’s will”
Comment by Christian For Malaysia Peace — March 4, 2013 @ 11:39 AM |
The British opened the door to Malaya to “immigrants” to help develop the mining industry and later to fight against the Japanese. The UMNO opened the door to Sabah to another group of “immigrants” to help populate the State with “sympathetic and pro-BN” voters to take over and maintain power. In both cases “immigrants” were given citizenships. And in both cases the security of the country was tested. In the earlier case emergency was declared because the “immigrants” turned communist and many security forces and civilians were compromised. Hope that the scenario in Sabah would not escalate to that level.
Comment by Edward, M — March 4, 2013 @ 10:23 AM |