KOTA KINABALU: State police commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said the security forces are doing their best to ensure the standoff with the Sulu gunmen in Lahad Datu is resolved as soon as possible.
“If it is necessary for us to act more aggressively, we will,” he said.
Hamza made the remarks while the armed foreign intruders holed up in Kampung Tanduo, Felda Sahabat 17 defied the extended deadline for them to give up and leave Sabah yesterday.
He said it was not a matter whether the deadline would be extended or not anymore.
He said the deadline was set because the Sulu armed group had requested to meet with a specific individual from the Philippines.
The police has identified the individual, but that individual could not be present here, he added.
Hamza said the security forces would continue to surround not only Tanduo village, but also Sabah waters to ensure no one can enter or leave illegally.
Asked whether the armed group had agreed to be deported, Hamza said the security forces would take action based on the law.
“We will resolve (this issue) as soon as possible without bloodshed. Even if there is, with minimum casualties,” he said in an interview after attending an inter-ethnic golf tournament initiated by Kota Kinabalu police chief ACP Jauteh Dikun here yesterday.
Hamza said there were not more than five locals in the village, who were either supporters or sympathizers of the Sulu armed group.
The rest of the locals had either moved out or come out of the village on their own, he added.
Security forces have been laying siege to the Kampung Tanduo round the clock since the standoff began about two weeks ago, cutting off food and water supplies.
Gunshots were said to have heard in the area, but Hamza said they had not been verified and were not fired by the security forces.
None of the estimated more than 100 members of the armed group have been arrested or have left Kampung Tanduo thus far, but several people have been detained for attempting to cross the security line.
Hamza was non-committal when asked when the standoff was expected to be resolved, assuring that it would be very soon.
He said he would travel to Lahad Datu with the Director of Internal Security and Public Order Department, Datuk Salleh Mat Rashid today, Feb 25.