SAD DAY: Malaysian police personnel manning the frontline bringing the bodies of two comrades killed in Kampung Tanduo in Lahad Datu yesterday. The two police commandos were killed during a mortar attack launched by the armed foreign intruders from the Philippines. — Bernama photo
CALL OF DUTY: Soldiers on the move to Kampung Tanduo yesterday to face the foreign intruders who are holed up in the village. — Bernama photo
Curfew imposed after 2 police commandos, 12 intruders die in skirmish at Kampung Tanduo
KUCHING: Police have declared an immediate curfew in Lahad Datu following the gunfight which broke out between security forces and the Sulu gunmen holed up in Kampung Tanduo since Feb 9.
It is learnt the decision was made as a precautionary measure after two police commandos were killed yesterday when a mortar bomb hit Kampung Tanduo, which had been turned into a fortress by a group of armed Filipino intruders in Lahad Datu.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib confirmed at a press conference in Lahad Datu yesterday that 12 Sulu gunmen were killed in the operation, besides two Malaysian commandos.
“The shootout began after the five elite General Operations Force (GOF) members tightened their perimeter around Kampung Tanduo and were met with gunfire when they stumbled upon the intruders,” Hamza said
He added in the 9.59am incident, the GOF members were forced to return fire and the skirmish lasted some 30 minutes.
Security forces recovered some weapons from the Sulu militants and are now holding their ground around within an area of 10sq-km around the village.
“We also seized weapons such as M16, magazines, bullet, rocket launcher and others. So far, no members of the group fled to the sea and if they ran away they are still in the surrounded areas,” added Hamza.
The two Malaysian police commandos killed are Inspector Zulkifli Mamat and Corporal Sabarudin Daud.
Three others were injured, one of whom is in a critical condition, and they have been hospitalised. It is learned that one of the injured was flown to Hospital Duchess of Kent (HDOK) in Sandakan around 3pm.
They are from VAT69, an elite police commando unit with its roots in counter-insurgency against the communists, and which has since been re-tasked for counter-terrorism and special operations.
Meanwhile, a police source said the operation to weed out Filipino intruders at Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu, was an integrated operation carried out by police, armed forces, including the civil defence force, Komando 69 and Marine police.
The situation in Lahad Datu was tense as many shops remained closed while residents living in the area remained indoors for fear of the current standoff between a group of Filipino intruders and the Malaysian security forces.
The Malaysian security forces had surrounded Kampung Tanduo on Feb 11, when about 150 men dressed in military attire and armed, had encroached into Malaysian waters and landed in the village on Feb 9.
Kampung Tanduo where the group was staying is a remote area situated about 130 kilometres from Lahad Datu. The group had identified themselves as the Royal Army of the Sulu Sultanate, headed by Agbimuddin Kiram.
Malaysian and the Philippine officials have had numerous negotiations with the group ever since but were futile.
The owner of the house where the leader of the gunmen stayed during the 17-day standoff was also killed but the nationality was not known, Philippine’s Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said in Manila, citing a report by Malaysia’s ambassador.
“The Malaysian ambassador said that the rest of the Kiram group in Lahad Datu escaped and ran toward the sea,” he said, adding that 10 members of the group were arrested.
He said Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario asked the Malaysian ambassador to the Philippines for a full briefing of the operations conducted by Malaysian forces in Lahad Datu.
He said del Rosario submitted a note verbale to the ambassador, asking for full access to Raja Muda’s group so that the Philippine government could give medical treatment to the wounded and provide consular assistance to the rest of the group. “Secretary del Rosario also requested clearance for the Philippine Navy ship AT-296 BRP Tagbanua to proceed to Lahad Datu to enable Philippine medical personnel aboard to attend to the wounded and ferry them and the remaining members of the group back to their respective homes and families,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kiran’s spokesman Abraham Idjirani was reported by Philippines ABS-CBN News that Kiram’s men would continue to fight and would not leave Sabah.