NSC coordinates sending of food supply

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LAHAD DATU: The National Security Council (NSC) has coordinated the sending of food supply to the 600 residents in four villages near Kampung Tanduo who were evacuated to Dewan Embara Budi near here since Tuesday.

SECURITY MEASURE: Police stand guard as goods are delivered to a grocery store in Felda Sahabat, an oil palm plantation near Kampung Tanduo where Malaysian troops stormed the location of the intruders on Tuesday. — Reuters photo

SECURITY MEASURE: Police stand guard as goods are delivered to a grocery store in Felda Sahabat, an oil palm plantation near Kampung Tanduo where Malaysian troops stormed the location of the intruders on Tuesday. — Reuters photo

NSC director Radzi Md Saad said the food would be cooked and distributed to the affected villagers by members of the People’s Voluntary Corps (Rela) and the Civil Defence Department.

However, there was some delay in the delivery of the food supply due to security factor in the affected area.

“The problem (delay) has been resolved and this evening, we will be sending the food supplies to the residents again,” he said when contacted here yesterday.

Residents from Tanjung Labian, Tanagian, Sungai Bilis and Lok Buani were evacuated to the Dewan Embara Budi following an offensive operation by security forces against the armed intruders in Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu.

Most of the residents left their homes with only the clothes on their backs.

Abdul Mukram, 32, from Kampung Tanjung Labian, said they had been staying at the hall since four days ago and were running out of food supply and clothing.

Yesterday, the village head, Assafal Alian, said they were ordered by the security forces to move to the hall since Sunday, but were not informed for how long.

Misran Muslan, 60, also from the village, said he and his wife, together with their child, decided to leave their house after seeing other villagers doing so and also for fear of their safety.

He hoped the problem in Kampung Tanduo could be resolved fast so that they could return to their normal lives.

Meanwhile in KUCHING, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar yesterday denied rumours of any links in the movement detected in the coastal areas of the east coast of Sabah with the armed intruders from southern Philippines.

He said checks by the police found them to be normal movements by residents in the affected areas, including in Lahad Datu and Semporna.

“I urge the people to not listen to rumours. The police view seriously any incidents or information received,” he told reporters at the Heroes Grave after the burial ceremony for DSP Michael Padel, who was among six policemen killed by armed intruders in Semporna. — Bernama