MNLF: Attacking Sabah again is 'Harakiri'

The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Muslimin Sema said the Sulu armed group stood no chance against better-equipped Malaysian soldiers.

JOHOR BARU - Any attempt by Sulu terrorists to launch a second wave of attack on Sabah would be suicidal, ending only in utter failure, said Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Muslimin Sema.

He likened such attempt as akin to a ‘suicide mission’, as the poorly-equipped Sulu armed group would face a well-organised and deeply-entrenched Malaysian armed forces personnel.

“Any plan to launch a second wave of attack on Sabah would be like the Japanese ‘harakiri’(suicide ritual) for the potential intruders,” he told Bernama in an interview via telephone from Manila, Philippines.

Muslimin, who was elected by the group’s highest decision-making body, the MNLF Central Committee, as chairman in 2008, said the Sulu armed group stood no chance against the better-equipped Malaysian soldiers.

“I would advise them (the terrorists) to think many times (on any attempt to launch a second attack).

“Waging violence in a peaceful place is not advisable. There is another forum to take their issue,” he said.

The MNLF chairman was asked to comment on rumours circulating in Sabah that the Sulu terrorists, followers of one Manila-based Jamalul Kiram III, were planning to launch a second wave of attack in the state.

The Malaysian Armed Forces has beefed-up its defences in the eastern coast of Sabah, following the cross-border intrusion by the Sulu terrorists in Lahad Datu and Semporna in February, this year.

In the ensuing armed confrontation with the Malaysian security personnel in Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu and Kampung Simunul, Semporna, more than 70 of the Sulu terrorists, as well as 10 of Malaysia’s policemen and soldiers were killed.

Scores of the Sulu terrorists, including one of its top commanders,  Amir Bahar Hushin Kiram, were also nabbed by Malaysian security personnel in follow-up operations.

The government, in its effort to better manage the security challenges in Sabah and boost its defences from any cross border intrusion has established the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) on April 1.

Muslimin said the MNLF, being one of the largest armed groups in southern Philipines, wanted to promote peace and stability in Sulu, as well as throughout the Mindanao region.

-Bernama