LAHAD DATU: Sadness and emptiness filled the air when the heads of families from Kampung Tanjung Batu returned to what was left of their village after the militants who intruded into the area earlier this month were flushed out by security forces.
Some of the villagers were overcome with sadness while evaluating their losses, as most did not expect to see their homes, in such bad conditions.
Greeted by the stench of carcasses of animals believed to be killed during Ops Daulat, they found most of their homes destroyed or riddled with thousands of bullet holes, while some houses did not even have a wall and others were burnt to the ground.
The streets where their children used to play on were littered with thousands of bullet shells, it was a sight no one had imagined at the 40-year-old village.
Despite the ruins, the villagers decided to rebuild their homes and continue to live there because to them, as it was the only home they knew.
Village Head Mahmud Mallang, 72, said he was shocked to see his home in such condition.
According to Mahmud, not only his home was destroyed, his family’s motorcycles, car and his children’s homes were also destroyed in the incident.
Saddened by what he saw, another villager John Dulahap, 62, said he was confident the government would help the residents in Kampung Tanjung Batu by providing special aid, to help ease their burden.
“My children’s homes were destroyed, the militants burnt their houses, my house had bullet holes everywhere, even our home appliances were ruined,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ajimin Mahmud, 35, said he was traumatised by the incident. He was slapped twice by the militants in his home.
“My sisters’ homes were ravaged beyond repair,” he said.
They were among 20 family heads brought in to Kampung Tanjung Batu with an evaluation team from the district office, and the national security council to evaluate their losses before residents with proper documentations were allowed to return home.
There was also a wrecked Ford Ranger vehicle riddled with bullet holes. While in some of the houses, there were machetes, and bloodstains.
Kampung Tanjung Batu was the prime location chosen by the Sulu militants to sneak into the country from the sea since Feb 12.
The Ops Daulat offensive was launched on March 5 after the terrorists, who rejected a negotiated settlement following their intrusion into Sabah on Feb 12, started attacking the security forces on March 1.
The village is said to have a population of 450 and 107 houses and there were a mosque and prayer house (surau).