LAHAD DATU, March 9 — Except for the sound of explosions at 1am and
7.30am, the Lahad Datu area was calm as the “Ops Daulat” offensive to
flush out armed Sulu intruders entered its fifth day today.
No clashes were reported between the security forces and the
militants, who have holed-up in Kampung Tanduo and Kampung Tanjung Batu,
130km from here, since February 12.
People were going about their daily activities as usual in this town and Semporna, about 150km from here.
The explosions occurred in the red zone area of “Ops Daulat” in
Sahabat 16 Felda plantation, prompting Felda settler Norashikin Sarbani,
33, to say that he was worried for a moment but realised that the
gunfire could have come from the security forces engaged in the
mopping-up and search operation.
Helicopters were also heard hovering above Felda Sahabat plantation.
Fifty-two Sulu militants have been killed in the offensive, which was
launched on Tuesday after the intruders killed eight policemen, two in
Kampung Tanduo and six in Kampung Simunul, Semporna, on March 1 and 2
respectively.
Felda settler Mujhi Bakrun, 39, expressed gratitude to Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Najib Razak for having launched the offensive to flush out
the militants.
Meanwhile, 1Malaysia Putera Club president Datuk Abd Azeez Abd Rahim
is expected to arrive at the Felda Sahabat plantation to distribute
humanitarian aid to almost 2,000 people relocated from the operations
zone. — Bernama