Malaysia belies Kiram claim of attack in Sabah

From GMA News (Aug 13): Malaysia belies Kiram claim of attack in Sabah

Malaysian officials on Monday belied claims by the camp of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III that the sultan's followers killed eight soldiers in a recent ambush in Sabah.

Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) director general Datuk Mohammad Mentek branded such claims as baseless, according to a report on Malaysia's The Star Online news site.

The Malaysian official claimed that the Sultan's camp was making "all sorts of claims to create disharmony and fear among the people."

He urged the public "not to believe such unfounded claims by these individuals who are using it as propaganda."

Mentek was referring to reports in some newspapers on Monday quoting Kiram's camp as claiming the clashes occurred in Lahad Datu.

On Monday, news reports quoted Kiram camp spokesman Abraham Idjirani as saying Kiram's followers ambushed eight Malaysian soldiers in Lahad Datu last Friday.

The Star Online report added that Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib also denied the reports, adding that there had been no recent clashes.

Kiram's followers had engaged Malaysian security forces in a standoff last February. The standoff ended in deadly clashes on March 1 and 2.

Following the clashes, Malaysian forces conducted offensive operations to flush out Kiram's followers from the area.

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