PREPARING FOR BATTLE: File photo shows security forces preparing for Ops Daulat at Kampung Tanduo and Tanjung Batu. — Bernama photo
WAITING FOR NEWS: File photo shows some of Kampung Tanduo children waiting for their fathers to assess their houses damaged by clashes in their village. — Bernama photo
LAHAD DATU: Entering Kampung Tanduo, a red zone that had witnessed the arrival of Sulu militants in Sabah, one could feel a sense of panic even though accompanied by security forces.
On Monday, April 8, together with 10 other members of the media, we were part of the first group of crew members to enter the high alert area where two members of the Malaysian police VAT 69 commando force had been killed by militants from southern Philippines.
The two commandos downed during the attack on March 1 were ASP Zulkifli Mamat from Besut, Terengganu and Sergeant Sabaruddin Daud from Sabak Bernam, Selangor.
While there had been the initial hiccup entering the zone amid tight security enforced by the Malaysian armed forces throughout the route that led to Kampung Tanduo, we finally made it into the village, with the permission of Sabah Police Chief Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib.
However, upon entering the village, our emotions ran high between elation and nervousness, imagining remaining terrorists lurking behind our backs and aiming their guns at us.
Fortunately for us, the tight security provided by the police force accompanying us and the armed forces that had set up camps around the village left us feeling more secure.
The bullet-proof vests and safety helmets provided by the office added to the tight defence,
besides constant prayers for our safety.
Our time in Kampung Tanduo also provided more than the anticipated experience of visiting a location in the aftermath of a battle that left a black mark in the country’s history.
Coincidentally, at that time, a forensics team was preparing to dig up the graves of terrorists buried by their fellow invaders.
At about one in the afternoon that day, a man was paid to dig up three graves that had been sniffed out by police tracker dogs earlier.
They were located close to the army camps.
Fifteen bodies were taken out, believed those killed in the battle with security forces on March 1.
It was exciting to see the grave-digging process in close proximity, but the writer ran for cover when an overwhelming stench took over and the sight of decaying corpses hit home. Most of them were still in their regalia, including a female terrorist.
Heavy rains interrupted the grave-digging process a couple of times and delayed it, but police eventually finished their gruesome task of taking out the bodies by 5pm.
All the bodies were taken to Hospital Lahad Datu for postmortems.
We managed to visit the village the second day as well, this time accompanied by Deputy Police Commissioner of Sabah, Datuk Tan Kok Liang, who wanted to check out some of the scenes of battle between the security forces and the invaders.
An entourage in 12 vehicles headed for the locations under the tight security and guard of the police and the army.
What was obvious was that almost all the houses had been damaged by the skirmishes that had taken place.
In some of the houses, only beams were left standing, while other houses were battered with only the roofs left.
Some scenes resembled that seen in war zones in other parts of the world.
The destruction came about when the militant group refused to retreat from Kampung Tanduo although given the opportunity to do so.
The government finally launched its offensive on the terrorists’ hideouts through aerial attacks by three F/A 18D Hornet fighter jets.
Operasi Daulat (Operation Sovereignty) was continued with five Hawk fighter aircrafts, followed by mortar attacks before the ground attacks to nab the remaining terrorists.
Our next stop was the house of Mat Bom’s son, the informer for the terrorists.
The house had been destroyed by fire and machinery used to dig the graves of dead terrorists found in front of the house.
We were told that once Mat Bom had been caught by the security force, his wife and children
were relocated to a temporary centre.
Tan who was given a special briefing by operations staff officer of Sabah General Operations Force, DSP Toipi Lamat later inspected the house where several holes had been dug by the terrorists to serve as hideouts.
Tanduo Beach, which was the last stop for the group of terrorists, had been the place where the group first landed.
On the beach lay the remnants of burnt boats that had brought the terrorists to the village.
They had used an old mosque as their headquarters.
Many army personnel were seen around the beach, manning temporary security posts that had been set up to prevent future terrorist attacks.
Tan said although the place had been declared free of terrorists, the military force would continue to monitor the area.
He also said there are no plans to stop security surveillance in the area for the time being.
The village, which had become the landing spot for the invaders from Sulu from the beginning, was closed by the security force as soon as fighting began and was made a non-residential area.
Chief of the Malaysian Armed Forces, General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin said the army had no plans to leave the village for now but would continue to be on guard there although there are no threats at present.
He also said no permanent military camp would be built in the village but it would be set up in the vicinity of Felda Sahabat with the cooperation of Felda. — Bernama