KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said on
Thursday Kuala Lumpur will not consider any request for a ceasefire so
long as the armed intruders in Sabah do not lay down arms
unconditionally.
Najib, who visited Sabah three days after security forces launched an
offensive against the armed intruders in Lahad Datu, said Philippine
President Benigno Aquino III had contacted him for Malaysia’s reaction
to the call for a ceasefire by Jamalul Kiram III.
“I informed President Aquino that they need to surrender
unconditionally and their weapons have to be handed over to us,” he
told a news conference in Felda Sahabat 16 in Lahad Datu.
Media reports from the Philippines today quoted Jamalul Kiram as
asking his people to lay down their arms in Lahad Datu after several
members of his group were killed in an offensive launched by the
Malaysian security forces on Tuesday after the intruders had killed
eight policemen on March 1 and 2. Eighteen of the intruders were also
killed in the two skirmishes with the security forces.
Meanwhile, United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon proposed that
the parties involved in the Sabah situation seek a peaceful solution.
Najib said the government would go to any length to ensure the
security, peace and sovereignty of Sabah.
On Tuesday, security forces launched an aerial and ground offensive to
end the intrusion by the Sulu militants and security forces were
proceeding with the mopping-up operation.
The prime minister said the operation against the militants would
continue until they surrendered.
He said Malaysia respected humanitarian principles and had given ample
time for negotiations with the militants before launching the
offensive.
“We gave them more then three weeks (to negotiate) and delayed (the
offensive) four times. We only acted after they killed eight of our
policemen,” he said.
Najib, who expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the operation
jointly mounted by the police and military, said the security forces
had defeated the militants who had holed up in Kampung Tanduo since
Feb 12.
“The close cooperation between the police and the military in
combining their expertise and strength in an integrated operation is
an excellent approach to acting firmly against the group,” he said.
Najib said no one should underestimate the government’s commitment to
uphold the principle that Sabah was a part of Malaysia forever.
“This cannot be questioned by anyone, both from within the country or
outside. We will be resolute in defending this principle, fact and
truth with our total force,” he said. – Bernama