Malaysia insists sultan's brother left for PHL March 11

The brother of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III left Sabah and returned to the Philippines as early as March 11, the head of Malaysia's armed forces insisted Thursday. According to a Bernama report, Armed Forces General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin cited "security intelligence" which showed Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram is now hiding in Mindanao, "moving from one island to another for shelter." "Azzimudie is believed to have done so to avoid his location from being detected by the Moro people, and for fear that he will be arrested by the Philippine authorities," addde the general. Zin said that with Azzimudie in the Philippines, Malaysian security forces may no longer be able to track him down as it is "out of their jurisdiction." But he said "further action" is possible because of "bilateral ties" between the Philippines and Malaysia. In Manila, Kiram's camp had maintained Azzimudie is still in Sabah up to at least Wednesday, when two of his men saved him from Malaysian forces though themselves being killed by gunfire. Malaysia had started offensive operations against Kiram's followers in Sabah on March 5, following deadly clashes on March 1 and 2. Malaysia claimed at least 63 Kiram followers in total have been killed in the clashes. — DVM, GMA News