Claim of armed men seen in Lahad Datu not confirmed yet – CP

KOTA KINABALU - Investigations into the allegation of armed men in camouflage seen at Ladang Sawit Blok 8, Felda Sahabat 2 in Lahad Datu is ongoing, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Ramli Din said.

So far investigations had yet to confirm the allegation, he said when met after the Sabah Road Safety Council meeting here yesterday.

Ramli however questioned why it took the complainant two weeks to lodge the report on his alleged meeting with the five armed men.

“The complainant said he met the men on April 30 but only lodged the report on May 14. However, we, the police do not take things lightly and will investigate any such report,” he said, adding that police had gone to the area mentioned to conduct their investigations but had uncovered nothing so far.

“I would also like to warn the public not to make false reports especially when it concerns public safety. This is not a joke… don’t play around with things like this. We can arrest and charge the individual for making false reports, especially those that cause panic among the people,” he said.

Ramli cited for example a case where there was a similar report lodged but when police rushed to the scene to investigate, they found out that the person who called in with the information was drunk.

Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) commander, DCP Dato’ Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid also urged members of public, especially those in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone), not to make any speculation following the sighting of five armed men in Felda Sahabat areas.

He said police were still investigating the incident.

Wan Abdul Bari said ESSCom would continue to monitor and carry out patrols in the areas, both in waters and land to ensure the east coast of Sabah was safe.

ESSCom also encouraged members of public to convey any information or lodge immediate report in the event of any suspicious incident so that immediate action could be taken, he said.

On Monday, a plantation worker in Felda Sahabat 2 lodged a police report claiming that he had bumped into the group of armed men while cleaning the farm at the area.

The complainant said that the five individuals were clad in camouflage pants and armed.

He also claimed that two of them stood up and asked the complainant if he came from the Philippines or Indonesia. They also told the complainant that they came here without any intention to burden the people here but to save Sabahans instead.

Before leaving the place, one of the individuals told the complainant that 37 individuals had landed at the beach.