No more negotiations, only deportation now, says CP

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Dato’ Hamza Taib

Dato’ Hamza Taib

LAHAD DATU: Police disclosed yesterday that whatever negotiations with the armed intruders that illegally entered Lahad Datu last Tuesday have now ended and that efforts are now underway to deport them back to their country of origin, the Philippines.

State Police Commissioner, Datuk Hamza Taib, disclosed this in a press conference following a briefing by the Police force regarding the armed group that landed and camped at Kampung Tanduo in Sahabat 17.

Hamza said whatever negotiations with the group have now ended as the group were making demands that were beyond the capability of the police to accept and not made through the proper channel.

“We will not accept any further demands unless it is made through a proper forum. However, we are now working to ensure that the group is deported to their country, and they have agreed to comply,” said Hamza.

Hamza said, the group, which wanted to be identified as the Sulu Royal Army, had requested for a meeting with a ‘someone’ before being deported to their country, and the police are now attempting to bring together the two parties in order to expedite the deportation process.

Meanwhile, Hamza, once again, stressed that the situation is under control especially on the security aspects.

He said, no problems have been encountered, thus far, in regard to safety and security issues and that the people should be assured of the country’s national defence being undertaken by security agencies such as the army, general operation force, the police and others.

The group, according to Hamza, is presently surrounded and the police having identified their location had gone there to meet and negotiate with the group.

Therefore, he added, there should be no concern regarding security or safety.

Hamza, in response to a question on the concern and unhappiness of Malaysians regarding the conciliatory approach taken by the police to resolve the matter of an intrusion by an armed group, said, the people should look at the situation from a different perspective, adding that the police would have taken a different approach if the group were militants or members of Abu Sayyaf.

He also disclaimed that the police have detained some of the group members.