Another Kiram follower killed in Sabah

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Malaysian security forces killed another Sulu gunman during a shootout early Saturday in Tanjung Batu, near Lahad Datu, Malaysian police Inspector General Ismail Omar announced.

Speaking over a Sarawak radio broadcast, Ismail said the Filipino was shot dead around 8 a.m. as Malaysian security forces continued to advance deeper into the village of Tanjung Batu,  where some of Agbimuddin Kiram’s followers were believed to be holed up.

“He was trying to slip past the security cordon in Tanjung Batu,” Ismail said, adding that the unidentified gunman was the 53rd “terrorist” to be killed since Malaysian authorities decided to take out by force the Sulu gunmen a few days ago.

The order to attack the encampment of Agbimuddin in Felda Sahabat in Tanduo was issued by Prime Minister Najib Razak after the “royal army” killed eight Malaysian policemen on March 1 and 2.

In all, a total of 61 combatants have been confirmed killed on both sides although Malaysian security officials said there could have been more deaths on the side of the “royal army” as the assault intensified.

Since Tuesday, Malaysian jets have been pounding suspected hideouts of Agbimuddin and his men in several areas of Lahad Datu, while Malaysian security forces have also been conducting ground operations in the Semporna, Tawau and Kunak areas.

Najib  made it clear early on that the offensive would end only when Agbimuddin and his men surrender.

Malaysian security forces continued firing artillery rounds toward an area of Lahad Datu early Saturday.

A reporter of the Sarawak-based radio station said explosions were heard as helicopters also took to the air until noon Saturday.

In a news conference aired by the same Sarawak station, Malaysian Armed Forces chief Gen. Zulkifeli Mohammad Zin said the air strikes and the shelling will continue because there have been no indication that the “Sulu terrorists” wanted to yield.

“This operation will continue until we are sure all areas have been cleared of threats. It might appear to be slow but we have been making good progress,” Zulkifeli said.

Instead of yielding, he said,  Agbimuddin and his men were rallying their local supporters to stand up against Malaysian forces.

This was the same reason, Zulkifeli said, that security forces  rounded up at least 79 suspects under Malaysia’s security law.

He said they remained in detention to this day in various jails on Sabah.

As this developed, relatives of a decorated Sabah policeman, who was also arrested on suspicion of having links to the Kirams despite his 40-year service record,  called on the authorities to free him if they could not find any proof he was part of the conspiracy to retake Sabah from Malaysia.

Salleh Berindi Othman said his uncle, 60-year-old Corporal Hassan Ali Basari, told him during a visit to his detention cell that his fellow policemen forced him to admit he had links to Agbimuddin.

Hassan is a Bajau, a Sabah tribe closely related to the people of Tawi-Tawi in the way the Orang Suluks, another Sabah tribe, trace their origin to Sulu.

His arrest and those of people from other tribes with close links to the Philippine ethnic groups of Tausug, Badjao and Sama has sparked fear across Sabah.

“I hope the police will conduct a thorough investigation and I also hope that they will allow my uncle to obtain treatment at the hospital,” The New Straits Times quoted Salleh as saying.

In the same story, the NST also quoted the president of the Semporna Bumiputera Bajau Association (Perbubas), Mansor Santiri, as saying that while the Bajau fully support the assault against the Sulu gunmen, they want  the police to “carry out a thorough investigation” on Hassan.

“If the police do not have firm evidence that he was involved in the said allegation, he should be released immediately,” Mansor was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, Ismail debunked anew claims by Sultan Jamalul Kiram III that his followers in Sabah had taken custody of four policemen.

“All our security personnel have been accounted for,” he said.

As Malaysian security forces tighten security in Sabah waters, fishermen in Kunak reportedly spotted “two strange boats” on Wednesday and rumors about more Sulu gunmen arriving on Sabah went around like wild fire, causing panic among villages in such areas as Dasar Lama, the NST reported.