What’s really is going on in Sabah?

From Malaya (Jun 20): What’s really is going on in Sabah?

THE Sultanate of Sulu yesterday said clashes erupted on Tuesday in Sabah between its supporters and Malaysian security forces, the second such incident since Sunday although Malaysia dismissed such reports.

Abraham Idjirani, spokesman of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, said the firefight took place between 7 and 8 p.m. Tuesday in Labbiyaw in Lahad Datu town involving some 200 of their fighters and Malaysian security forces.

Idjirani said he learned of the firefight when Kiram’s brother, Agbimuddin who has been leading the sultanate’s supporters since February, called up yesterday.

“This is a chance encounter just like last Sunday’s firefight. Our Royal Security Forces (as the Kirams called their armed supporters in Sabah) battled the Malaysian forces for about 30 minutes,” he said.

He said Agbimuddin did not disclose if his forces sustained casualties.

Kiram’s camp had also claimed that last Sunday’s encounter took place in Dangan Tungko, Sabah with no reported casualties.

Earlier, Idjirani said only 166 had been left of Kiram’s original supporters but he claimed they were reinforced by more than 1,000 “volunteers” from Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, which both the Philippine and Malaysian governments denied.

In the latest encounter, Idjirani said Kiram’s supporters were forced to retreat because Malaysia’s forces were more numerous and better armed. “They had to save on bullets and strength,” he added.

But the Malaysian military’s Eastern Sabah Command (ESSC), in reports published in the Star Online Malaysia, denied the Kirams’ claim of fresh clashes.

The report quoting ESSC chief Mohammad Mantek said offensive operations against the Sulu fighters have stopped.

“No such thing happened. Nothing at all,” Mantek was quoted as saying adding that the claims of firefights are only “meant to cause trouble.”

Malaysia last March claimed it has effectively broken the back of the sultanate’s forces.

But Idjirani insisted, “Of course, they would not admit such incidents took place as they wanted to create an impression that Sabah is peaceful and our supporters are already decimated.”

http://www.malaya.com.ph/index.php/news/nation/34065-whats-really-is-going-on-in-sabah