Malaysian police holding 'close relative' of Sultan Kiram — report

The Malaysian police have detained at least one supposedly close relative of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, whose followers had engaged security forces in armed clashes since March 1, a Malaysian news site reported on Tuesday. A report on The Star Online said the police remained "tightlipped" on the identity of the relative but said they are still looking for at least 20 "key" followers of Kiram. The police claimed to have detained at least 97 Kiram followers and sympathizers so far. The Star Online said these include at least seven uniformed personnel and a local politician, as well as sympathizers in Lahad Datu and Semporna. On Monday, Sabah Police commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said at least six more were detained for suspected links to the Kiram followers. Hamza also said 125 others had also been detained for trying to enter areas where the operations were being held. Meanwhile, the Star Online quoted the sultanate's spokesman Abraham Idjirani as saying the sultan's brother Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram was still alive, based on communications they had on Sunday night. ”He asked me to tell his brothers and sisters in the Philippines that he was in good health. Azzimudie said that he was still in Sabah and wanted to continue living there," it quoted Idjirani as saying. - VVP, GMA News