Malaysian police attend to a body of a gunman who was shot dead during a shoot-out with soldiers in Simunul village on March 4, 2013. Malaysia vowed to beef up security in the eastern state where at least 26 people have been reported killed after a bizarre invasion by Philippine followers of a self-styled sultan. AFP PHOTO
LAHAD DATU: Residents of Lahad Datu district have condemned the intrusion of Kampung Tanduo by armed foreigners.
The multi-ethnic community regards their refusal to return to their country as show of disrespect to peace efforts undertaken by the Malaysian government.
“They (the intruders) killed our security forces members and made our life difficult,” said Lahad Datu district chief, Sulaiman Atok.
He hopes the 300,000 residents of Lahad Datu help the government by providing information on the self proclaimed Sulu Sultanate Army.
It is a better way than disseminating information via social websites such as Facebook as it can be used by irresponsible people to create confusion.
Sulaiman urged the authorities to seriously investigate the rumours being spread on the intrusion in Lahad Datu.
Segama mukim developer, Eddy @ Hassan Wedley did not expect the security and peace of Lahad Datu could be threatened by the presence of the intruders.
He said all the Rukun Tetangga areas had increased night patrols to prevent the presence of strangers who would disturb the peace in five kampungs in the mukim.
Meanwhile, Lahad Datu community supervisor Saidin Separudin pleaded with certain quarters not to politicise the issue.
“This involves national sovereignty. I regret that certain quarters are more interested in politicising this issue while the people’s safety is under threat,” he added. — Bernama