IGP: Armed foreigners who landed in Lahad Datu surrounded by security forces

Malaysian armed forces patroling the waters off Tanduan, Tanjung Labian, Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia.





Source of this news : The Star Online / Bernama 13th February 2013 Wednesday.

IGP: Armed foreigners who landed in Lahad Datu surrounded by security forces

A group of armed foreigners who landed in Lahad Datu, Sabah on Tuesday, 12 February 2013 has been surrounded by Malaysian security forces.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said security forces surrounded the area when the intruders, believed to be from the Philippines, landed on Tuesday morning, 12 February 2013.

"They have been directed to put down their weapons and surrender," he said in a statement Wednesday, 13 February 2013.

Ismail said the intrusion was related to problems in southern Philippines.

"The situation is under control and the public need not be unduly worried," he said.

Earlier, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zahid Hamidi said he had ordered Armed Forces chief Jen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin to take immediate action together with the police over the matter, to ensure the country's defences and security were at the optimum level.

"We will seek cooperation from neighbouring countries. I will also ask the Armed Forces chief to give a detailed report on the situation there when possible," he added.

My Say :

Lahad Datu is a coastal town in the East Coast of Sabah, situated near international waters bordering Phillippines.

In 1985, the town was attacked by a group of bandits who stole money, shooting people at random. That incident is still fresh in the minds of the people of Lahad Datu.

The aftermath of the attack, i.e bullet holes can still be seen at Hotel Mido.

God Bless Malaysia.

Plot to kill an elected assemblyman in Sabah by militant?

The Malaysian Government cannot confirm nor deny claims that the 13 people detained in Tawau, Sabah, East Malaysia, last week had planned to assasinate an elected representative, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

He confirmed that those detained were considered terrorists and investigations were ongoing.

Hishammuddin was responding to a report in The Star in its Wednesday 23rd November 2011 edition, that the 13 suspected Darul Islam terrorists were part of a group believed to have plotted to assassinate a local assemblyman.

Counter-terrorism sources said that they were also planning to hold a police officer hostage to secure the release of their comrades.

According to them, the group had attended guerilla warfare training in Sulawesi, Indonesia, and were also taught to make bombs.

Their group leader Abdullah Omar was arrested in Indonesia in July 2011.

“This group first surfaced in 2006 and wanted to murder an assemblyman but counter-terrorism officers thwarted its plans,” one source said.

Well to me, this is gruesome. Plot to kill an elected assemblyman in Sabah is unheard of in the past.

May God Bless Malaysia and may those militants remain in custody.

Source : The Star Online, 24 November 2011.