Sabah police: 2 villages cleared of Kiram followers

At least two villages in Sabah have been cleared of followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, a Malaysian news site reported on Saturday. Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib was quoted by Malaysia's New Straits Times as saying Tanjung Batu and Tanjung Labian villages are under control. "We have brought 22 family heads to visit and assess their homes in Tanjung Batu and we will also allow villagers to return home (Saturday). We will continue to deploy security personnel in villages which have been cleared, including Sungai Nyamuk and Kampung Tanduo and we will conduct general policing to restore villagers' confidence," he said. Since March 5, Malaysian security forces had conducted offensive operations in Lahad Datu to flush out Kiram's followers. The offensives stemmed from deadly clashes last March 1 and 2. Before the clashes, the Kiram followers had engaged Malaysian forces in a three-week standoff. Hamza said at least 10 Kiram followers may still be in Felda Sahabat, but said security forces are tracking them down. "We know that they are out there," he said. The New Straits Times also reported Malaysian security forces completed sweeping and mopping-up operations in Tanjung Labian Friday. It said an assessment team was to enter the village Saturday, with heads of family and community leaders. At least 68 suspected Kiram followers had been killed and 126 arrested since March 1. Meanwhile, Lahad Datu district officer Zulkifli Nasir said 16 houses in Tanjung Batu were destroyed in the clashes. He said they are studying relocating some Tanjung Batu villagers. — LBG, GMA News