Transition period for anti-Kiram ops in Sabah starts

A transition period of sorts has started for Malaysian authorities going after remnants of followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III in Sabah. On Monday, Malaysian Armed Forces chief Gen. Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin said the "Ops Daulat" offensive will give way gradually to the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM). Zulkifeli said military officers from ESSCOM are now learning how Ops Daulat is being implemented so they can eventually take over, according to a report by state-run Bernama news agency. Earlier, the Prime Minister said Ops Daulat—which started March 5 following deadly clashes between Kiram's followers and Malaysian forces on March 1 and 2—would end soon. But Zulkifeli said they will study the level of security in the area before proposing the official handing over of the operations to ESSCOM. Reduction of forces For now, Zulkifeli said they will reduce the number of military personnel in Lahad Datu. "During the Ops Daulat, a total of 3,500 military personnel were deployed here and today, about 2,500 personnel are still deployed here. The same goes for the armored cars, we will reduce the number gradually," he said. Zulkifeli also said a permanent camp would be created near Felda Sahabat with the cooperation of Felda. On Kampung Tanduo, which was among the locations for the clash with Kiram's followers, he said the Malaysian forces "are still dominating the area although there is no threat." "We will be there for as long as possible," he added. — BM, GMA News