LAHAD DATU: TANJUNG Batu and Tanjung Labian have been declared as "red zones" following the sighting of armed intruders in the coastal villages.
Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib confirmed this development yesterday as scores of villagers were seen leaving their homes. (Pic -Villagers of Tanjung Batu and Tanjung Labian fleeing after sightings of intruders yesterday.)
These two villages, situated next to each other, are 7km away from Kampung Tanduo, where Royal Sulu Army members have been holed up since arriving on Feb 12. (
In Kampung Tanjung Batu, villager Abdul Hassan, 55, claimed he saw about 60 people, some carrying firearms, approaching the village. Seeing this, the villagers fled.
"They were in civilian clothes and came out from the plantation area. I have never seen them before and I believe they are part of the group of intruders," he told the New Straits Times.
Abdul, who left the village at 8am, said he was talking with friends at the beach when others informed them of the intrusion.
He said he wanted to go back for his family, who were still in the village, but was afraid.
Another villager, Lodokus Laku @ Aldo, 33, said one of the gunmen came to his house and identified himself as "Haji Musa".
"He had a weapon and was wearing a songkok.
"He told me that they had come to negotiate with the police. He was tall and well-built.
"He greeted me and shook my hand," said Lodokus, who added he got out of the house and left the area.
He also expressed concern about the safety of his family members, who were still in the village. He claimed he saw about 130 people, some of whom were armed.
The incident had also caused panic among Kampung Tanjung Labian villagers, who had evacuated their homes.
Checks revealed that many houses in this village were vacant, with only a few residents remaining.
The NST was told that the villagers had started leaving their homes on Sunday night.
A resident there, Mansur Malik, 48, said villagers left their homes because they were afraid. He did not leave as there was no evacuation order.
"Someone needs to take care of the houses. I am not afraid," he said, showing off his hand-made samurai sword.
Operasi memburu saki-baki penceroboh bersenjata dari Selatan Filipina di Kampung Tandu0, Felda Sahabat 17, dekat sini diteruskan hari ini.
ReplyDeleteKeadaan di Lahad Datu dan Semp0rna masih terkawal.
ReplyDeleteDi kawasan Felda Sahabat, kawalan pasukan keselamatan negara di bawah 0ps Daulat masih ketat dengan z0n penampan dikuat kuasa di kawasan-kawasan sekitar 10 kilometer persegi dari Kampung Tandu0.
Keadaan masyarakat setempat di kawasan terbabit berjalan seperti biasa dengan penduduk keluar melaksanakan rutin harian mereka. Di bandar Lahad Datu, kira-kira 130 kil0meter dari Kampung Tandu0, keadaan masih terkawal dan tenang.
ReplyDeleteDi SEMP0RNA keadaan juga dilap0r tenang dengan masyarakat meneruskan tugasan harian mereka serta premis perniagaan dibuka seperti biasa pada pagi ini.
ReplyDeletePasukan keselamatan mengadakan kepungan di laut dan darat bagi mengekang kemasukan bekalan makanan dan persenjataan kepada kumpulan penceroboh bersenjata di sekitar Sabah.
ReplyDeletePesuruhjaya Polis Sabah Datuk Hamza Taib berkata pihak keselamatan turut menangkap penceroboh yang cuba masuk dan keluar daripada Kampung Tanduo serta Tanjung Batu bagi mendapatkan bekalan makanan.
ReplyDelete"Kita telah mengadakan kepungan setakat ini, jika mengikut jalan laut, kita telah mengadakan kerjasama erat dengan pasukan seperti ATM (Angkatan Tentera Malaysia) dan TLDM (Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia). Kita telah mengadakan kepungan di lautan dan di darat.
ReplyDelete"Saya rasa bekalan makanan itu tidak dapat masuk, kerana banyak juga cubaan yang kita dapati yang mereka nak masuk dan nak keluar, kita berjaya menangkap mereka," katanya ketika ditemu bual menerusi program Malaysia Hari Ini (MHI) TV3 yang disiar secara langsung.
ReplyDeleteAda juga penduduk Tawau yang mengatakan bahawa ada penceroboh bersenjata mengetuk rumah untuk meminta bekalan makanan.
ReplyDeleteMengenai kumpulan penceroboh yang dipercayai menyamar sebagai orang awam susulan tindakan ofensif pihak keselamatan, Hamza berkata pihaknya mengadakan kepungan di Kampung Tanjung Batu bagi memastikan tiada orang awam di situ sebelum serangan dilakukan.
ReplyDelete"Kalau ada jalan keluar pun, 'the only way out' ialah ikut jalan laut. Bagaimanapun, saya tidak menafikan (wujud cabaran) kerana kita berhadapan dengan manusia, jadi masing-masing ada tipu helah," katanya.
ReplyDelete