TOTAL DESTRUCTION: Mahmud (main picture and inset) looking at what remain of his houses, he estimates his total loss to be about RM200,000.
MAHMUD Mallang’s hands started shaking and his heart was beating so fast that he could hear his heartbeat as he approached his village Kampung Tanjung Batu near Lahad Datu.
He and his fellow villagers have been kept away from their homes since the Filipino intruders showed up at their doorsteps more than a month ago.
Until then life for them had been idyllic with their daily routine of farming and fishing but when the security forces moved in to flush out the intruders, all hell broke loose.
The villagers were evacuated or fled on their own to get out of the crossfire of the battles that ensued. On Thursday after it was confirmed by the police and National Security Council that the village had been cleared of its unwanted guests, Mahmud led some 20 household heads back to their homes to assess the damages in the aftermath of the gun battles between the security forces and armed Filipino intruders.
Like the rest of the villagers Mahmud was apprehensive of the ‘surprises’ that await him in his village. Although he steeled himself for the worst, Mahmud was dazed and heartbroken at the sight of houses riddled with bullet holes, some with walls and doors blown apart by explosives and others razed to the ground with spent bullets strewn everywhere when he entered his once idyllic village by the sea.
“I lost two houses, both burnt down, and my newly bought Isuzu DMax is also destroyed,” he said
The 72-year-old Tanjung Batu village head estimated his losses to some RM200,000.
Mahmud said that he had been briefed on the village’s conditions prior to their trip, but what he witnessed personally was beyond his expectation.
“I cannot believe that this village, which used to be peaceful and beautiful has turned into something so barren and ‘dead’ … a sudden rush of sadness crept in and I had to hold back my tears hard,” he said.
Mahmud disclosed that the village, which covers about 1,000 acres, has a total of 103 houses, four halls, a mosque and a surau, with a population of some 450 people, most of whom possess valid documents.
Despite the destruction that greeted them Mahmud and his fellow villagers are determined to rebuild their houses and get on with life in Tanjung Batu.
“We would like to stay here since most of us have built our lives in this area,” he said.
Mahmud , who is an oil palm small holder, said he was away for some business in town when the villagers were advised to leave the houses immediately.
“But I was told by villagers that the intruders had asked for me. They wanted to see me. I never get to meet them so I do not know what exactly they wanted from me,” he said.
His son, Azmain Mahmud 35, meanwhile, has a different story to tell.
“It was early morning and I was standing outside my house when a group of armed men came. They demanded me to go with them and I was led to join some 30 other villagers.
“I was slapped twice and had a ‘badong’ (or barong, a local name for machete), up my throat. They were asking me some questions, speaking in Bajau and Suluk languages … I thought I was going to die that day.
“I prayed real hard, all I could think of that time was God, I guess my prayers were answered as my life was spared.
“They instead asked me to buy rice for them, I obliged and all the while, planning an escape … I manage to slip out and ran as fast as I could. That was how I got away,” he said.
Azmain is however unsure how the others manage to escape, but disclosed that he was relieved to see them at the Embara Budi evacuation centre.
He heard that some of the escaped villagers are putting up at the Fajar Harapan evacuation centre or with relatives.
Azmain, who was still traumatised by the incident, said he hated being alone because, as he puts it: “ That is when I start to think of the awful moment.”
He said there was no point of crying over what had happened but he does not intend to leave his village.
“I am glad that my wife and daughter are safe. I am thankful that I manage to escape a day before the offensive against the intruders. I will accept this as a challenge from God and I have to thank Him for this valuable life lesson. Like anybody else in Kampung Tanjung Batu, Mahmud and Azmain will have to pick up from where they left off.
“I have to start from square one since I lost both houses, but I am not blaming anyone. This is a test from God and we will rebuild our lives, I will be strong for my family,” said Mahmud.
He also said that their prayers are with the security forces who are involved in Ops Daulat.
“We cannot be thankful enough for their sacrifices, especially those who have perished. They have risked their life to protect us and our village … they will be forever remembered,” said Mahmud.