KOTA KINABALU: The security forces are ready to face any threats of retaliation from the armed group involved in Thursday night’s robbery and shootout with Malaysian security forces off Semporna.
“Our security forces comprising various agencies including the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) are always on the alert and are prepared to face any possibilities,” said Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun.
“But we have not received any such information yet,” he said after closing the six-day Ex-Rampas training course here yesterday.
However, he reminded the public not to believe rumours claiming that kidnappers from southern Philippines would likely make a counter-attack after the robbery and shootout incident which saw three of the seven armed criminals shot dead, while two other members were arrested.
In the incident on Thursday between 9pm and 10pm, a brazen kidnapping and robbing spree by seven foreign gunmen ended in a face-off with the police elite outfit Tiger Platoon off Pulau Gaya in Semporna.
The gunmen, who had earlier kidnapped two fishermen in three robberies, were suspected to have headed towards a fishing boat to rob and probably kidnap another victim when they realised that they were up against the General Operations Forces elite squad.
Three of them were killed, two captured and another two missing at sea after their twin-engine 80HP speedboat capsized.
Police rescued the skipper of a trawler who was unhurt but the second trawler crew member was still missing.
A lance corporal from the platoon injured when a bullet hit him in the calf during the encounter.
Abdul Rashid said initial investigations showed that the criminals came from outside the Malaysian borders and were believed to have entered Sabah through the international waters.
“We are still trying to get more information,” he said, adding that the police were working closely on the case with their counterparts in the Philippines.
He added that two gunmen, in their early 30s, were still being held in custory for further interrogation.
“We have yet to identify the armed group behind the incident and are still getting more information from the duo to assist in our investigation.”
Abdul Rasid said police were still tracking down the two suspects and a kidnap victim and extended the search areas in the open sea of up to 80 metres depth.
“The search team also coordinated with Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) led by ESSCom Commander Datuk Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid.
“We are also assisted by other security agencies to mobilize all the assets and capabilities that we have,” he added.