LAHAD DATU: The gaping holes in Malaysia’s defence has again been dazzlingly exposed by a ragtag band of “terrorists” this time escaping a dragnet operation that turned out to be leaky yet again.
The embarrassing escape of Agbimuddin Kiram or Azzimudie, the man wanted by security forces for leading a group of armed men from the Southern Philippines on an invasion of Sabah has left many flummoxed by the ease with which he had left the country in much the same way he had come in.
Police say the 72-year-old leader of the Sulu group probably escaped from their mop-up operations code named Ops Daulat a few days ago, leaving behind a small number of gunmen to do the fighting in and around Tanjung Labian.
Agbimuddin is believed to have been smuggled out of Sabah waters to Simunul, one of the islands in Tawi Tawi province, and is keeping a low profile.
This is the third time Malaysian security forces appear to have been outsmarted by Agbimuddin and his armed group who had slipped into Sabah undetected between Feb 9-12 and then escaped the cordon thrown around Kampung Tanduo which they had occupied since then till March 4.
While the Philippines navy has said that it had intercepted in Tawi-Tawi waters two boats with about 35 men, one of them wounded, packed onboard fleeing Sabah on Wednesday, it was not known if he was among the group.
Both the Inspector General of Police Ismail Omar and Armed Force Chief Zulkifeli Mohd Zin have, however, confirmed that he has escaped and is now back in the southern Philippines.
They added that based on intelligence and information received they could not tell how he managed to escape the security dragnet.
Meanwhile, Tawi-Tawi governor Sadikul Sahari said yesterday Agbimuddin was not among the 35 but the Sulu leader remains a wanted man by order of the President Benigno Aquino.
“Our police and navy are on the look out for him. If he appears, he will surely be arrested,” he said declining to comment on talk that Agbimuddin could be lying low with relatives in on the island of Simunul in Tawi-Tawi province.
Gunmen charged
Sadikul said that about 50 more Filipinos had reached Taganak island yesterday and were on their way to Bongoa island, the administrative capital of the province.
“I do not know if they were from the battle area but I was told that they are ordinary Filipinos fleeing Sabah,” he added.
Agbimuddin vanished from sight after the March 5 bombardment of Kg Tanduo. While there has been no direct contact with him, his family members in Manila have insisted he is alive and still with his followers.
Meanwhile, the Philippines’ Justice Department has booked the 35 gunmen of the so called ‘Royal Sulu Army’ on various criminal charges including inciting war.
She said the cases against them under the violation of the Election Gun Ban and violation of Article 118 of the Revised Penal Code for Inciting to War or Giving Motives for reprisals would be filed before the Bongao, Tawi-Tawi Regional Trial Court.
The department’s secretary Leila DeLima said an informal investigation or inquest proceeding has been instituted against the 35 was held on Thursday evening.
Such investigations are conducted following any arrest without warrant to determine whether that person should remain in custody and be charged in court. The 35 have been detained in a naval facility in Tawi-Tawi.
Thomas Pi
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak shared some of the Government's insight as to how it chose a strategy to follow that would lead towards resolving the Sulu situation in Sabah with the least loss of life.
ReplyDeleteTindakan yang bijak harus dibuat agar masalah pencerobohan ini tidak terus mengancam.
DeleteNajib explained how he weighed information from many different sources to ensure there would be no missteps in the handling of the situation. He even referred to international law and reviewed the tenets of religious law for guidance.
ReplyDeleteMaklumat yang dilaporkan harus benar dan jitu. Jangan terkena perangkap info yang direka.
Delete"No one can question our right (to self-defence), either in terms of the principles of international law or religious law," he said.
ReplyDelete"The government is most careful in the matter and about what we are doing. Firstly, we gave the terrorists the opportunity to withdraw, in conformity with the rules of Islam.
ReplyDelete"It is not that we wanted to see bloodshed, not that we wished to see lives sacrificed, but when we were attacked, we were obliged to defend ourselves," he said.
ReplyDeleteIt was only when eight policemen were slain and some of their bodies abused that the Government was forced to launch an offensive to end the conflict. Fifty-six terrorists and one teenager were also killed.
ReplyDelete"Is it not the time for us, in keeping with our religious obligation, to give our undivided support to the security forces? It is because of them that we are able to defend the sovereignty of our beloved country," Najib added.
ReplyDeleteThe security forces killed in the battlefield in Sabah were deemed to have died as martyrs, as determined by the National Fatwa (Edicts) Council.
ReplyDeleteLast week, de facto Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim appeared on the international financial news channel, Bloomberg News, and expressed frustration that the government didn't resort to violence sooner – 'shoot first and asking questions later', as some have said. During the interview, Anwar repeatedly said that 23 days was too long for negotiations and felt that Malaysia should have resorted to force sooner.
ReplyDeleteThat risky approach also sounds very cavalier about the potential for greater loss of life. Najib's more measured approach won the nation praise in international titles such as the respected Wall Street Journal, and his restraint and patience set the tone for the entire operation.
ReplyDeleteOnly a man who has never had to accept responsibility for the consequences of such a decision by meeting the mourning families of victims would ever push to use force first without negotiation.
ReplyDeleteKetua pengganas, Azzumudie Kiram atau Agbimuddin Kiram yang dipercayai melarikan diri ke selatan Filipina kelmarin disifatkan sebagai pengecut dan kejam kerana meninggalkan pengikutnya berdepan pasukan keselamatan di kawasan operasi Op Daulat.
ReplyDeleteBuruan harus diteruskan.
DeleteAgree, jangan lepaskan buruan agar mereka akan kembali dengan pasukan yang lebih kuat dan besar.
DeleteSebagai ketua pengganas, tindakan itu menunjukkan mereka kalah dan hendaklah meletakkan senjata segera selepas melanggar kedaulatan Malaysia.
ReplyDeleteSudahlah ceroboh dan buat kacau di negara orang, kemudiannya larikan diri. Memang dia penakut dan pengecut.
ReplyDeleteInilah sikap orang yang tidak bertanggung jawab.
DeleteJika benar, berdepanlah dengan pasukan keselamatan kita. Jangan cuba buat kacau dengan kita, kemudiannya cuci tangan.
ReplyDeleteAncaman yang tidak diperlukan. Segala masalah boleh dirunding sahaja.
DeletePeralatkan orang yang taksub dengan kesultanan Sulu.
ReplyDeletetindakan pencerobohan yang dilakukan juga sudah mencerminkan siapa mereka sebenarnya, oleh itu pasukan keselamatan hendaklah mengambil tindakan segera yang sepatutnya.
ReplyDeleteTujuan pencerobohan ini disebabkan golongan yang tidak bertanggung jawab dan mementingkan kuasa dan harta.
DeleteAzzumudie sememangnya orang yang paling dibenci sejak hari pertama pencerobohannya bersama sekumpulan pengganas bersenjata.
ReplyDeleteKesemua pasukannya harus dibenci juga kerana bertidnak mengikut emosi.
DeleteKehadirannya langsung tidak diundang. Kami tidak mahu dia berada di negara yang berdaulat. Sepatutnya dia lari bersama pengganas lain, bukan bersendirian.
ReplyDeleteMereka harus serah diri dan bairkan undang-undang menentukan kesalahannya.
DeleteLihat tindakannya, jelas seorang yang pentingkan diri, buat kacau dan lari bersendirian. Biarkan yang lain berdepan dengan pasukan keselamatan kita,
ReplyDeletesebagai seorang Islam, Azzumudie tidak patut menyerang negara Islam lain, lebih-lebih lagi negara berdaulat dan memiliki perundangan.
ReplyDeleteIslam ke atau tidak, serangan ini tidak harus dibuat terhadap mana-mana negara pun.
DeleteUntuk apa serangan dilakukan pun kita tidak tahu, kami tidak mahu dia berada di Sabah lagi,”
ReplyDeletependuduk Sabah, mengharapkan pasukan keselamatan dapat membuat pendakwaan segera kepada Azzumudie.
ReplyDeleteOrang yang melanggar kedaulatan negara kita tidak sepatutnya dibiarkan lebih lama mengambil kesempatan menceroboh Malaysia.
ReplyDeleteTindakan kepadanya dan konco-konconya akan membuatkan pihak lain lebih berjaga-jaga untuk terus cuba-cuba menceroboh negara orang
ReplyDeleteIdjirani said that the ceasefire which the "sultan" had previously called for with the Malaysian authorities had been cancelled and the men were ordered to carry out "hit and run" attacks against the security forces.
ReplyDeleteHamza said the terrorists were the ones who set upon the security forces by killing two policemen and wounding three others in an ambush in Kampung Tanduo on March 1.
ReplyDelete"We do not respect Jamalul Kiram's words for his followers shot dead two policemen after declaring a ceasefire a day earlier," he added.
Patriotism should transcend political beliefs, especially now that our sovereignty is being threatened
ReplyDeleteSABAH prides itself as a land of tranquillity. There have been tumultuous times politically but like the icon of the state, the majestic Gunung Kinabalu, sanity and common sense always prevailed.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThere have been changes of governments and even threats of breaking away from Malaysia, but irrational thinking like that died a natural death.
Its proximity to the southern islands of the Philippines had its problems as well.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteAt the height of the Philippine government campaigns against separatist groups, many of the people fled to Sabah.
Many stayed on and became part of the rich and unique tapestry that make up Sabah.
ReplyDeleteSabah is a melting pot of cultures -- the land where people of all races and ethnic groups lived harmoniously for generations.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThe level of religious, cultural and linguistic tolerance is unsurpassed anywhere in the country. Sabah is the poster boy of racial unity.
I salute the Sabahans for their special way of celebrating their differences.
ReplyDeleteEvery family in Sabah has its own story of interracial marriage.
ReplyDeleteIn such marriages, family relationships were never severed, in fact enhanced.
ReplyDeletePeople of different "looks" mingle around speaking the national language, the unifying factor in such a complex society.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened in Lahad Datu was a shock to all Sabahans.
It can't happen here, they say in unison and in disbelief.
ReplyDeleteBut bad things happened and bad things set a series of many more bad things to happen.
ReplyDeleteWhen Sulu terrorists encamped themselves at Kampung Tanduo in Lahad Datu, little did we realise that they were prepared for the worst.
ReplyDeleteInitially, according to reports, they looked harmless -- a ragtag army with a few firearms. How wrong we were.
ReplyDeleteThey were, in fact, dangerous and sadistic. They came to create havoc, which they did.
ReplyDeleteThe government's position of exercising restraint in dealing with them was misconstrued as weakness. They killed our policemen.
ReplyDeleteWe have no choice but to retaliate. It is the sovereignty of the nation that we are protecting. Theirs is simply an act of aggression.
ReplyDeleteThey are, after all, terrorists on our soil. And they must be treated as such. And dealt with accordingly.
ReplyDeleteThe blame game began even before the first strike. Everyone in the country has two professions now -- his or her own, and an expert on the incursions.
ReplyDeleteThis is a democracy. There is no law to stop people from giving views or commenting.
ReplyDeleteBut some of the comments posted were simply inappropriate, hurtful and uncouth. The safety of this nation is no laughing matter.
ReplyDeleteHave we become so divided a nation that everything is viewed from a partisan point of view? Even on matters regarding the sovereignty of the country?
ReplyDeleteThe silence of some political leaders and parties to support the government's action to attack the terrorists is palpable. Perhaps this is election time.
ReplyDelete.
In silly sessions like these, no other political party would even commend the measures taken by the ruling party, however good they may be.
ReplyDeleteBut there is a line to partisanship. Patriotism is supposed to transcend political beliefs. Perhaps patriotic fervour has gone.
ReplyDeleteJingoism is not trendy any more. Or anything to do about showing loyalty is scorned upon.Which is sad. That is why I am envious of the Indonesians. The politics is many times more contentious.
ReplyDeleteThey are more divided on issues. There is little discipline on political conduct. But something unites them -- the belief in Pancasila, their version of Rukun Negara. The respect for their flag -- Sang Saka Merah Putih.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteTheir belief in the National Day where kebersamaan (togetherness) is key. Come Independence Day they behave like one. Any issue perceived as a threat to their sovereignty -- like the Ambalat -- they will discard their differences and become one.
ReplyDeleteIn a case involving their citizen being abused abroad, the media will speak as one. When Tourism Malaysia was accused of using reog, one of the performing arts of the Ponorogo in Central Java in its advertisement, the majority of its people condemned us as pencopet budaya (culture thieves).
ReplyDeleteImagine if the Sulu terrorist incursions happened in Bali, Lombok or Bengkalis? I bet there will never be an opposition leader in Indonesia finding fault about the ruling party orchestrating the battle with the terrorists.
Perhaps this is a tipping point for Sabah. Or, as some would put it, Sabah will never be the same again. Let's not underestimate the resolve of Sabahans.
ReplyDeleteThey have spoken as one to say that, we condemn the perpetrators and that we want Sabah to rid itself of these terrorists that have shaken the people. They want a closure to this tragic episode, whatever it takes
ReplyDelete