Malaysian police: Teenager killed in anti-Kiram ops in Sabah

From GMA News (Mar 10): Malaysian police: Teenager killed in anti-Kiram ops in Sabah

A teenage boy was killed Sunday during Malaysian security forces' operations to flush out followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III in Sabah, Malaysian police claimed Sunday.

Police Inspector General Tan Sri Ismail Omar said the incident occurred in Kg Sungai Bilis at 9:45 a.m., according to a report on state-run Bernama news agency.

The Bernama report quoted Ismail as saying security personnel were questioning five people when they saw movements in some bushes, and thought it could be Kiram's followers.

A man in his 30s was also injured in the leg in the incident, it added.

"Reacting to the possibility that they were under attack by Sulu gunmen, the security team opened fire at the bushes," the Bernama report said.

Malaysian forces had been hunting down Kiram's followers since a series of deadly clashes last March 1.

Bernama said the boy was described as between 12 and 15 years old. He was found dead behind the bushes.

However, Ismail said residents had already been told to stay away from the areas where police and the army were conducting operations to flush out Kiram's followers

1k Pinoy refugees leave for Sulu

A separate report on New Straits Times (NST) said some 1,000 Filipinos in Sandakan in Sabah have been packing up and fleeing "en masse" for Sulu since Saturday.

The report quoted Sabah Suluk United Association's Sandakan division president Jamal Ali as saying the refugees were seen boarding boats from the central market in the town.

"Some of them claimed that they were afraid by the heavy presence of our security forces and the constant operations held around the town these few days... These refugees felt it was safer for them to go back to their homeland now."

But he denied claims they left because they were harrased by police.

Sulu patrols

Malaysia's defense minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Sunday said the Philippine government has intensified its patrols in the Sulu area in Mindanao to prevent Kiram's followers from getting to Sabah.

A Bernama report quoted Zahid as saying Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin contacted him to inform him of the development.

"It is hoped that this will make Jamalul Kiram, who is said to be the mastermind, realizes that the Philippine government does not support him," the Bernama report quoted Zahid as saying.

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