Documentary Discover Sabah Borneo Malaysia
Monday, April 1, 2013
Lahad Datu Sabah
128 Filipinos arrive from Sabah
philstar.com) | Updated April 1, 2013 - 4:41pm
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - - Apprehensive of possible abuses from the hands of Malaysian authorities, Filipinos continued to flee Sabah.
The latest batch of Filipinos, 128, arrived in Taganak islands, Tawi-Tawi province. The Philippine Navy assisted the latest batch of Filipinos from Sabah, the military said.
The refugees were immediately transported by the navy’s BRP Apolinario Mabini and arrived here Friday, said Col. Rodrigo Gregorio, chief of the civil-military operation and spokesman of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).
He said the navy patrol ship initially anchored in Jolo and unloaded 55 of the 128 refugees who were natives of Sulu. The vessel then proceeded to Majini pier at Naval Station Espaldon, home of Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) in this city.
Gregorio said the rest of the displaced civilians were immediately provided assistance by the Task Force Basulta (Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi) and brought to the processing center for displaced persons of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office based this city.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council said some 5,000 Filipinos fled Sabah following the conflict sparked by a standoff when followers of Sulu Sultanate went to Lahad Datu to stake their claim over Sabah since February.The navy and police in Tawi-Tawi have been guarding the waters of the Philippines near the border to prevent followers of the sulu sultanate from reinforcing the group of Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram, younger brother of Jamalul, who is being pursued by Malaysian forces. - Roel Pareño
Lahad Datu Rajah Mudah Agbimuddin
Lahad Datu: Rajah Mudah Agbimuddin still alive and in Sabah
01 APR 2013 11:56AM
MANILA: The brother of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III is still alive and still in Sabah, the sultan’s camp in Metro Manila claimed on Sunday.
Sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani said they last communicated with Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram over the weekend, radio dzBB’s Nimfa Ravelo reported.
But Idjirani was quoted in the report as saying Azzimudie told them there was still “heavy fighting” in the area he was in, GMA News reported.
He also quoted Azzimudie as saying Malaysian security forces are continuing with their “roundup” of suspected Kiram followers.
Azzimudie had led a group of armed Filipinos to Sabah last February and engaged Malaysian security forces in a standoff for three weeks.
The standoff ended in deadly clashes on March 1 and 2 that led to Malaysia conducting offensive operations against Kiram’s followers since March 5.
Malaysian authorities earlier claimed Azzimudie had fled to Mindanao and abandoned his followers.
ABN NEWS
lahad Datu villages declared safe
Villagers praying at one of the burnt houses in Kampung Tanjung Batu, Lahad Datu, under close surveillance of the security forces yesterday. Pic by Edmund Samunting
Two villages declared free of intruders
LAHAD DATU: More than 10 intruders are still hiding in Felda Sahabat and security personnel are hot on their trail.
Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib yesterday said there had been no encounters with them so far but "we know that they are out there".
He assured that security in Tanjung Batu and Tanjung Labian was under control and that the two coastal villages were now declared free of armed intruders.
"We have brought 22 family heads to visit and assess their homes in Tanjung Batu and we will also allow villagers to return home tomorrow (today).
"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".
Hamza added that between 20 and 25 Tanjung Batu families were expected to return to their homes, adding villagers whose houses were destroyed would continue to stay at the relief centres until further notice.
Security forces completed their sweeping and mopping up operations in Tanjung Labian yesterday.
The assessment team is scheduled to enter the village today, along with heads of family and community leaders.
Operations are now focused on Sungai Bilis and Kampuing Lok Buani.
To date, 126 suspects linked to the intruders were arrested and 68 gunmen were killed since the first clash on March 1.
Based on assessment, Lahad Datu district officer Zulkifli Nasir said 16 houses in Tanjung Batu were destroyed in the conflicts between security forces and the intruders.
"While 25 houses need to be repaired, there could be more houses that need to be looked into. We are studying the possibility of relocating some of Tanjung Batu villagers.
"There are many houses in this area compared to Kampung Tanduo but the district office would also assist in the reconstruction of all houses destroyed in the conflict." he said.
Zulkifli, who led the assessment team, said there was no untoward incident during their visit to the village yesterday and that the situation in Tanjung Batu was currently under control.
LAHAD DATU: More than 10 intruders are still hiding in Felda Sahabat and security personnel are hot on their trail.
Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib yesterday said there had been no encounters with them so far but "we know that they are out there".
He assured that security in Tanjung Batu and Tanjung Labian was under control and that the two coastal villages were now declared free of armed intruders.
"We have brought 22 family heads to visit and assess their homes in Tanjung Batu and we will also allow villagers to return home tomorrow (today).
"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".
Hamza added that between 20 and 25 Tanjung Batu families were expected to return to their homes, adding villagers whose houses were destroyed would continue to stay at the relief centres until further notice.
Security forces completed their sweeping and mopping up operations in Tanjung Labian yesterday.
The assessment team is scheduled to enter the village today, along with heads of family and community leaders.
Operations are now focused on Sungai Bilis and Kampuing Lok Buani.
To date, 126 suspects linked to the intruders were arrested and 68 gunmen were killed since the first clash on March 1.
Based on assessment, Lahad Datu district officer Zulkifli Nasir said 16 houses in Tanjung Batu were destroyed in the conflicts between security forces and the intruders.
"While 25 houses need to be repaired, there could be more houses that need to be looked into. We are studying the possibility of relocating some of Tanjung Batu villagers.
"There are many houses in this area compared to Kampung Tanduo but the district office would also assist in the reconstruction of all houses destroyed in the conflict." he said.
Zulkifli, who led the assessment team, said there was no untoward incident during their visit to the village yesterday and that the situation in Tanjung Batu was currently under control.
Lahad Datu grenade found
Live grenade found in Lahad Datu
LAHAD DATU: A live grenade believed to belong to the Southern Philippine terrorists was found near a house in Kampung Tanjung Batu, Felda Sahabat, here today.
The bomb was discovered by two children aged 7 and 10 while they were playing in the compound at about 8am today.
Their neighbour Mad Ali Hassan, 60, said he was cleaning his house when he was informed of the bomb.
"Though retired, as a territorial army personnel I can recognise a grenade when I see one, and this one was still active and could explode anytime. "We hope the security forces will help us to clear the village of them," he told reporters, here today.
Meanwhile, residents of Kampung Tanjung Batu and Kampung Tanjung Labian with valid documents, were allowed to return to their respective homes albeit in stages from Saturday, after the security forces ensured that the villages were safe from terrorist threat.
Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order director Datuk Seri Salleh Mat Rashid, who was in the area, advised residents to report immediately to the security forces if they found any grenade.
"We hope they won't take this matter lightly as a live bomb can explode and cause injuries. We want them to advise their children against playing with the lethal object," he said. -- BERNAMA
Lahad Datu Sabah Trader Need PASPOR
Sabah traders need passports, seaman's books
Posted at 04/01/2013 10:00 PM | Updated as of 04/01/2013 10:01 PM
MANILA - Filipinos and other foreigners trading in Sabah and Labuan will have to show either passports or seaman's books, the Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur said Monday.
The new guidelines imposed by Malaysian authorities were relayed to the embassy through a note verbale.
"With effect from 15 April 2013, all crews of barter trade ships or vessels will be required to produce valid travel documents, i.e international passport or seaman book at all entry ports in Sabah. Seaman identification card (SIC) will no longer be issued to crews of barter trade ships or vessels without valid travel documentation," the Malaysian Foreign Ministry said.
"Effective from 2 April 2013, permanent Custom and Immigration Quarantine (CIQ) complexes will be operating at Ports of Kudat and Lahad Datu as well as an Immigration Control office at Karakit, Pulau Banggi where all immigration and customs procedures will be enforced at the said entry points," it said.
Consul General Medardo Macaraig urged Filipinos to follow Malaysian regulations.
"The embassy wishes to call the attention of all barter traders and other concerned parties to the new regulation, otherwise they may be significantly inconvenienced if they are found by Malaysian authorities to be in violation," Macaraig said.
Malaysia will also allow barter traders in Sabah and Labuan to stay in the areas for up to 7 days with no extension.
Barter traders are allowed to do business in 3 ports in Sabah - Sandakan, Tawau, Kudat.
A total of 18,388 barter traders were issued SICs last year.
Under Malaysian laws, ship captains who violate immigration regulations can be imprisoned for up to 5 years, fined RM50,000, or suffer 6 strokes of a cane.
Under Malaysia's new Immigration Act Anti-Trafficking in Person and Smuggling of Migrants, they can be imprisoned for 20 years or fined RM500,000.
The ship's crew can also be imprisoned, fined, and caned.
The DFA and other Philippine government agencies are discussing the issue with affected traders in Mindanao.
Lahad Datu: 'Datuk Seri' detained over possible links to Sulu incursion
Malaysian admits giving money to Kiram kin
Posted at 04/01/2013 4:41 PM | Updated as of 04/01/2013 4:41 PM
Sulu sultan seeks Catholic bishop's help
Kiram seeks Pope Francis' help on Sabah claim
ABS-CBNnews.com
Posted at 04/01/2013 6:29 PM | Updated as of 04/01/2013 6:29 PM
MANILA - Sultan Jamalul Kiram III met with Catholic leaders in the Philippines with the hope that his group’s claim to Sabah could reach Pope Francis in Vatican.
Kiram met with Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Jose Palma for almost an hour on Monday.
Kiram showed the Catholic leader legal and historical records, including receipts, which he said prove the sultanate’s ownership of Sabah.
Palma promised to bring the case to the Vatican Council, which is also hoping for a peaceful end to the conflict.
The spokesman for the Kirams, lawyer Abraham Idjirani, explained it was a “brother-to-brother” talk since the issue already transcends not only to Muslims, but Catholics as well.
He said Catholic Filipinos are also affected by the alleged maltreatment of the Malaysians.
Almost 5,000 Filipinos have fled Sabah since Malaysian security forces launched an offensive against what they call the "armed intruders."
The Filipinos began arriving in Mindanao in early March after clashes broke out.
The clashes have left more than 60 Pinoys dead along with 10 Malaysian security personnel, according to Malaysian authorities.
President Benigno Aquino has previously expressed concern that the unrest in Sabah might displace the estimated 800,000 Filipinos working there.
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