Lahad Datu: IGP - No new intruders, operations ongoing against armed group

Credit: PDRM facebook


LAHAD DATU: Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar has refuted rumours that 700 Sulu gunmen have entered Sabah.
"I received information that there are SMS and social media postings which falsely claim that these gunmen have entered Kota Kinabalu and Tawau to create chaos," he said in a press conference here Friday morning.
"It is not true. Do not believe in reports which are not confirmed by the police and military. Please inform the police if you see any information via social media or text messages," he added.
During the joint press conference here Friday with Armed Forces Chief Jeneral Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin, Ismail also showed new photographs of the bodies of gunmen and weapons seized during Ops Daulat.
Ismail said among the Sulu gunmen killed in the operations by security forces could have been one of the leaders of the group.

Zulkifeli giving instructions to his men on Ops Daulat.

Asked whether group leader Azzimudie Kiram, brother of self-proclaimed Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III, was among those killed, Ismail said: "We are still in the process of identifying this leader.
"For now, we can safely say that, based on the clothing, among those killed was one of their leaders," he said.
Ismail said the gunmen were not showing any sign of surrendering despite the ceasefire call by the self-styled Sulu Sultan on Thursday, thus the operation against them was ongoing.
Malaysian security forces launched an all-out offensive against the gunmen on Tuesday, after a stand-off that began on Feb 9.