BERITA

Zahid: Filipina tembak mati 35 militan Sulu cuba masuk Sabah

MOHD ISKANDAR OTHMAN
25 April 2013

Ahmad Zahid menyemat Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) yang diberikan kepada salah seorang vateran ATM, Koperal Ibrahim Jaafar, 82.

BAYAN LEPAS - Menteri Pertahanan Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi berkata, 35 militan Sulu ditembak mati oleh pasukan keselamatan Filipina ketika cuba memasuki perairan Sabah untuk mencetuskan masalah ketika Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 (PRU13).

Menurutnya, kesemua pengganas itu ditembak selepas pihak keselamatan Filipina memintas mereka di perairan sekitar Pulau Sibutu berhampiran Tawi-Tawi semalam.

"Mengikut maklumat yang diterima,pasukan keselamatan Filipina telah berbalas tembakan dengan mereka ketika meminta kumpulan itu patah balik ke Kepulauan Sulu selepas mereka cuba mahu memasuki peraian Sabah.

"Berdasarkan maklumat risikan difahamkan mereka berhasrat untuk memasuki Sabah dan mengadakan pencerobohan dan kekacauan menjelang PRU di Malaysia," katanya pada sidang media di sini selepas menghadiri majlis ramah mesra bersama warga Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) di Kem Tun Razak di sini, hari ini.

Ahmad Zahid berkata, sekiranya kumpulan penceroboh itu berjaya masuk ke perairan negara beliau akan memastikan pihak keselamatan negara akan membunuh atau mengusir mereka keluar demi mempertahankan negara.

Dalam pada itu, Ahmad Zahid berkata, mengucapkan jutaan terma kasih kepada kerajaan Filipina khususnya Tentera Laut Filipina dan Pengawal Pantai Filipina yang telah memberi kerjasama erat dengan kerajaan Malaysia khususnya ATM dan Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) dalam menangani pencerobohan di perairan Sabah.

Sementara itu beliau berkata, terdapat lagi usaha pencerobohan yang cuba dilakukan oleh sekumpulan militan daripada Kepulauan Sulu ke Sabah menjelang hari pengundian nanti.(Sinar Harian)

NEWS

35 Sulu terrorists shot dead by Philippines navy

·         Bernama ·         6:01PM Apr 25, 2013

Caretaker Defence Miniser Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (below) today confirmed press reports that 35 Sulu terrorists were shot dead by the Philippine navy in Sibutu Island, the Philippines last Saturday, which was nomination day for the 13th general election.

Based on intelligence investigation and information, the terrorist group had intended to enter Sabah, and create chaos in the run-up to GE13, he told reporters after a gathering with armed forces personnel, in George Town today.

He also thanked the Philippine Armed Forces, particularly the Philippine navy and Philippine coast guard which had given close cooperation to the Malaysian government, particularly the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).

The Utusan Malaysia daily today reported that the Philippine security forces shot dead 35 members of the Kiram terrorists, led by its senior leader Kalling Amirul, in a fierce battle at Sibutu Island, the Philippines last Saturday, while the group was planning a strategy to encroach and attack the Sabah east coast to obstruct the GE13 process.

In the clash, two members of the Philippine security forces were killed, and the Philippine security forces had also seized more than 20 M16 and Garand rifles.

Ahmad Zahid also gave an assurance on the security of voters throughout Malaysia, particularly those located in Sabah and that they could discharge their voting rights safely on May 5.

Commenting on the explosion in Nibong Tebal on Wednesday, Ahmad Zahid said those responsible for the explosion had gone overboard, and that they should not attempt to bring in the "Arab Spring" to Malaysia because Malaysia had its own political mould.

"We don't want to be threatened with bombs, we don't want democracy to be jeopardised. If they want a government that is cleanly elected, then they should campaign in a clean manner. Don't intimidate the opposing candidates when the support of the people shifts to a stronger government," he said.

- Bernama

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NEWS

Malaysian report 'complete lie': Sultanate of Sulu

By Edd K. Usman

Published: April 25, 2013

"That is a complete lie, a fabrication!" 

The Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo (SSNB) made this strong statement on Thursday, denying and rejecting a news report in a Malaysian newspaper that said that Philippine Navy and Coast Guard personnel killed 35 Suluk (Tausug) militants on Wednesday trying to get into Sabah. 

"We are denying that because no one is going there in Sabah because of the election there," sultanate spokesman Idjirani said on Thursday. 

"If that is true, then the news will quickly spread like wildfire," he said. 

According to Idjirani, the last time people from Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan went to Sabah was over two weeks ago referring to the 1,000 or so members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) who volunteered to help the sultanate's Royal Security Force (RSF).

"My wife and I were in Sulu on Wednesday. We did not hear anything. We arrived in Manila only in the evening," said Idjirani. 

He said the sultanate has no plans to disrupt the 13th General Elections (GE13) of Malaysia, saying "We  are not involved in the election there, and we are not with the Malaysian opposition." 

He accused Malaysian Defense Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zaid Hamidi of "lying and fabricating reports" about the supposed 35 slain Suluk militants. 

Hamidi's statement came out on Thursday in the online edition of the The Star, citing an "intelligence report" that reportedly said the Suluk men wanted to disrupt the election. 

The Malaysian official said the Suluk men were shot by Filipino soldiers after they refused to turn back, but were still in Philippine waters. 

Idjirani noted that the report came as President Benigno S. Aquino III is in Brunei attending the summit meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). 

"Maybe the Malaysian government wants the President to become angrier with the sultanate," the sultanate's secretary-general said. 

"We wish the President success in his trip and hope that he will talk about Sabah at the ASEAN summit. The Suluk people in Sabah are going to exercise their right to vote. Our people here in Sulu are doing everything to help their relatives in the May 13 election in our country," he adds.

He said everyone in Region 9 is busy helping their relatives win in the electoral race and have no time to go to Sabah. 

Idjirani said in Sabah (formerly North Borneo), there are over 600,000 Suluk people who are eligible voters because they have the identification cards (IC) called "Mahathir MyKad" issued in the past by the government. 

"The Suluk people in Sabah will be a crucial factor in the election. They are going to vote in order for them to distance themselves from the Sabah standoff and show they are not members of the Royal Army of the sultanate," he said.

He recalled that a certain "Mr. Jambon" of Sabah's Kadasan tribe spoke in the British Parliament in 2010 and exposed the Malaysian government's distribution of the ICs. 

"Obviously, the purpose of giving ICs to Filipinos and other foreigners in the territory was to court voters to favor administration candidates," said Idjirani. 

In early February this year, Rajah Muda Agbimuddin Kiram led 235 RSF members to Sabah to revive and stake their "historical rights" over the disputed territory. 

A three-week standoff ensued as Malaysia wanted them to stand down and return to the Philippines. 

The rajah muda did not budge, saying they went to Sabah to live settle peacefully because it is their "ancestral home." 

On March 1 fighting erupted, and escalated on March 5 to a massive offensive launched by the military and police of the Muslim country. 

After about 70 dead, the rajah muda and his men reinforced by hundreds of MNLF members are still on the island, Idjirani said. *

* News of Sulu