Malaysian police: Another Kiram follower killed in Sabah firefight

From GMA News (Mar 9): Malaysian police: Another Kiram follower killed in Sabah firefight

Another follower of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III was gunned down in another encounter early Saturday in Sabah, a Malaysian official said.

Malaysia's New Straits Times (NST) and The Star online quoted Malaysian police Inspector General Tan Sri Ismail Omar as saying this brought the number of slain followers of Kiram to 53.

The Star online quoted Ismail as saying the firefight between security forces and Kiram's followers occurred at 8:00 a.m., "and a gunman was killed."

NST added Ismail Omar and Armed Forces Chief Gen. Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin said a total of 79 suspects have been detained as of Saturday.

Earlier state-run Bernama news agency said explosions were heard in Lahad Datu at 1 and 7:30 a.m. as the Malaysian forces' effort to flush out Kiram's followers entered its fifth day.

Malaysia has taken an all-out stance against Kiram's followers since a deadly shootout last March 1. Before that, Kiram's followers engaged security forces in a three-week standoff.

While the sultan had offered a unilateral ceasefire last Thursday, Malaysia has rejected it and demanded that Kiram's followers lay down their arms without condition.

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