18th February, 2013
SANDAKAN: The United Suluk Community Organisation or USCO condemns the act of a group of Filipino gunmen claiming to be soldiers of the Sulu Sultanate who intruded into Sabah and are holed up in the district of Lahad Datu.
Its president, Bentan Alamin said their claims to put a stop to the deportation of Suluks in Sabah are unfounded because the community have long settled and become permanent residents in the state.
He hopes the Malaysian government will deny the group’s request saying that their real objectives are not known.
“USCO does not agree to their act because what they have done can tarnish the image of Suluks in Sabah and may even cast suspicion on the local Suluk community,” he said in a statement here yesterday.
Meanwhile, Sandakan Umno information chief, Abdul Hamid Sabal, asked for everyone not to make speculations on the Lahad Datu intrusion.
He said speculating will only create unnecessary suspicion when the government is in fact working to deport the group as soon as possible.
“It is very irresponsible for anyone to try and spread information that can create confusion when our security forces are doing their best to protect us all,” he said.
“We should be grateful that in Malaysia, our security forces are trying to resolve this without any bloodshed,” added Hamid.