Malaysia threatens 'drastic' steps in Borneo siege
Twelve followers of the little-known sultan of Sulu and two Malaysian security personnel were killed in Friday's firefight, police said, as the more than two-week-old siege in a remote corner of Malaysia turned deadly.
Dozens of Filipinos have been holed up on Borneo island, surrounded by a massive Malaysian police and military cordon, since landing by boat from the nearby Philippines to insist the area belongs to their Islamic leader.
"We want them to surrender immediately. If they don't, they will face drastic action," Hamza Taib, police chief of the Malaysian state of Sabah where the drama was taking place, told AFP.
He declined to provide details of what security forces had in store but his comments echoed growing Malaysian impatience with the situation.
In Manila, Philippine President Benigno Aquino urged the gunmen to surrender immediately.
"To those who have influence and the capacity to reason with (the sultan's followers), I ask you to convey this message: surrender now, without conditions," he said in a statement.
The Filipinos, who are estimated to number between 100 and 300, sailed from their remote islands to press Jamalul Kiram III's claim to Sabah.
Kiram, 74, claims to be the heir to the Islamic sultanate of Sulu, which once controlled parts of the southern Philippines and a portion of Borneo.
In an immediate response to President Aquino's appeal, Kiram's spokesman Abraham Idjirani said the gunmen would remain in Sabah.
"We have spoken: It's honour over lives," he said, adding that the deaths of the sultan's followers have "only strengthened our resolve to defend the rights of the Filipino people over Sabah".
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, whose government has been embarrassed by the security breach, said doors for negotiation are closed and urged the gunmen to surrender.
"The Sulu rebels have to surrender or they will face the action of our security forces," he was quoted as saying by the Star newspaper
While it is not clear how the firefight erupted, Najib said the two police officers were gunned down after walking into a trap.
"I was told some Sulu gunmen had waved the white flag but when the Malaysian forces moved in, they were fired upon instead," he said.
Muslim-majority Malaysia had previously avoided tough talk, expressing hope the intruders would leave peacefully.
But now even if they give up, they will face Malaysian prosecution, Hamza said, after he met with Malaysia's home minister and other top security officials.
Local residents were staying indoors and the usually bustling coastal town of Lahad Datu -- the area's only major town, about 150 kilometres from the standoff site -- was quiet with most shops closed on Saturday.
The Sulu sultanate's power faded about a century ago but it has continued to receive nominal payments from Malaysia for Sabah under a historical lease arrangement passed down from European colonial powers.
Malaysia's Police and Security Forces in Sabah are pretty helpless from my aqcuantance with them.
1) Having Illegal Phillipino Lovers .
Every police, army or air force personnel base or station , a few of our guys have a Fillipina lover . Children born out of wedlock from this liaison.
Special branch detectives are helpless due to the " keep a Fillipina Lover" scenario.
2) Indonesian Bugis Gangs.
Tawau are controlled by Illegal Immigrants - Indonesian Bugis Gangs . Check the nighspots like Discos , Pubs, Massage Parlours , Brothels whatever. The bouncers are fierce Indonesian Bugis. Brothels are run by Bugis supplying illegal Java women.
Labuan, Sandakan, Kunak and Lahat Datu are controlled by Phillipino Gangs from mostly Sulu.
4) Citizeship to illegals.
To make matters worse , Malaysia reportedly gave out 500,000 Citizenships to Illegals.
5) Piracy in Sabah Waterway.
The waterway leading most if not all of Sabah sea port are infested by mostly Phillipinos . Certain areas Indonesian Pirates .
Been in the Merchant Navy sailing through t****egions , have seen that myself, seen and experienced all those . Even had 1st hand encounter with MORO raiding our ship.
Check the vessel M.V. Jenson 2 . The ship was grounded and MORO pirates boarded and having a free for all. Crew were robbed at gunpoint . Cargo looted onto their wooden boats.
Tanker ship , M.T. Suci was hijacked by our own crew of Indonesian descent in the 1990s and till today was never found.
There are other isolated cases of my ship being boarded by pirates in Tawau Harbour . Raised Alarm and S.O.S. using ship's horn search light . No response from Tawau Port Authority nor Malaysian Marine Police whatsoever. The Port Authority can't do much for fear of reprisal. Marine Police ? With Pinoy lovers.
Take a trip down those places and see for yourselves. Loyal Malaysian Police Personnel dare not pa****lone or in pair. They would only go to those Ilegal settlements in groups of 4 or 5 people. Those people entrusted to take care of Sabah are not patrolling with their guns - busy with their illegal Fillipinos or Indonesians immigrant lovers. In all fairness, what can Tun Najib do ?
Aren't Malaysians thankful to Mamak Mahathir for the 500,000 citizenship so that UMNO can be in Putra Jaya ? It is very clear-cut case of , " An Indian from Kerala sold off our beloved Beautiful Malaysia".
What Anwar said is very true. The intrusion would not have happened if our government had beefed up our security forces at our Sabah borders with the Phillippines. They know very well that Sabah had been flooded with illegal immigrants for ages. And yet no real efforts were made to stem the flow. Furthermore this is not the first time that Lahad Datu was invaded. The last incident of bandits shooting up and robbing the town did not seem to register in the minds of our BN government that they should at least have a larger and more well-equipped military base there.
Now two more members of our forces lives are needlessly lost. How many more lives must be lost before our stupid BN government can come to their senses and do something. Looks like it will never happen. And the only way to make Sabah safer is to kick out BN at the coming GE13. And let Anwar do a better job.
The sheer reluctance to take drastic action from day 1 till now is incredible.
Do we need to sacrifice more Malaysians before drastic action is taken?
Just go to Petaling Streat , Bukit Bintang , Chow Kit , even the KLCC and other areas in the Klang Valley. This areas are full of illegal and partly legalised foreigners from Pakistan , Bangla , Indon , Burma ,Arabs ..... and most of the businesses are operated and managed by this foreigners .
Our Klang Valley IS AND WILL SOON BECOME LIKE SABAH , ALSO AS "Dont Stone Em describe".
We all should all be thankful to an Indian man who came from Kerela who have sold our beautiful Malaysia in order to be in power and be rich, also for his sons to become richer.
SYABAS DEMOKRATIK MALAYSIA ADALAH DITENTUKAN OLEH PENDATANG HARAM YANG BERI UNDI KEPADA BN . MALAYSIA BOLEH . BN BOLEH
From time immemorial, time and tide wait for no man!
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