8 Malaysian forces killed by RSF on Eid Day battle

From the Manila Bulletin (Aug 11): 8 Malaysian forces killed by RSF on Eid Day battle

Violence re-ignited on Sabah island morning of Friday between patrolling Malaysian forces and followers of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo that reportedly killed eight Malaysians.

Malaysia marked the end of Ramadan on Thursday, while Philippines observed it last Friday.

The sultanate's secretary general, engineer Abraham J. Idjirani, relayed the battle that took place to journalist on Sunday. He said special forces from the Sarawak state, a neighbor of Sabah, were patrolling the vast palm oil plantations in Felda Sahabat, Lahad Datu, Sabah, when ambushed by 50 Royal Security Forces (RSF).

"One of the top commanders of the RSF, Commander Uto Ubi, was leading his men on a patrol when they sensed the presence of the Sarawak security forces. The RSF men then positioned for an ambush," said Idjirani.

"The first volley from the sultanate's followers killed eight Malaysian forces, which they saw with their own eyes as they fell," said Idjirani, also the spokesman of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III.

He said the RSF wthdrew after several minutes of fighting, but sustained no casualties.

Idjirani said Rajah Muda Agbimuddin Kiram called him up by phone after the Eid'l Fitr prayer on Aug. 10 in Manila, between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m.

"Rajah muda relayed to me the fighting. He said there were 200 special forces from Sarawak conducting patrol in Felda Sahabat," the sultanate's spokesman said.

Idjirani said Rajah Muda told him the patrol was from Sarawak because the forces in Sabah may not be too incline to fight the RSF who are Suluk (Tausug) people.

Rajah Muda and 235 RSF men sailed to Sabah in early February to stake their "historical claim" over the resources-rich Borneo territory. When the Malaysian government discovered them, they were asked to stand down and leave the island.

Rajah Muda refused, resulting in a three-week standoff that erupted on March 1 into a firefight, and a massive Malaysian offensive on March 5.

Figures released by the Muslim government showed they have 10 forces killed and about 70 from the sultanate's forces.

Idjirani had also reported a round of fighting in June, but Malaysia and the Philippine government denied such incident happened.  

http://mb.com.ph/News/National_News/26711/8_Malaysian_forces_killed_by_RSF_on_Eid_Day_battle#.UgdxtY7D9jo