Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein pointed out that the militants, led by Agbimuddin Kiram, the brother of self-styled Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, have refused to back down despite the all-out assault on their band of fighters by Malaysian security forces, The Star Online reported.
“They have not laid down their arms unconditionally, so this will go on,” he was quoted as saying today, before adding that all those on duty to clear the bodies off the gunmen must prioritise their safety.
“We heard about people saying there were booby traps on the blast sites so my advice is plan your moves properly and make sure safety is the top priority on the list,” he added.
Earlier this morning, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar told reporters that another gunman was shot dead at 8 this morning.
According to The Star Online, Ismail said the gunman was killed in a shootout as he attempted to slip through a tight security blockade in Kampung Tanjung Batu.
But the IGP admitted that there was no sign yet of Agbimuddin.
“We believe they were trying to avoid security forces by moving between both villages,” he was quoted as saying, referring to Kampung Tanjung Batu and Kampung Tanduo.
Ismail added that the remaining members of Agbimuddin’s group have likely been surrounded by Malaysian forces and are moving about in pairs or in small units.
Armed Forces chief Gen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin explained that following Tuesday’s aerial attacks by the air force, the group of gunmen managed to escape from Kampng Tanduo to Kampung Tanjung Batu due to the rugged terrain, The Star Online reported.
Malaysia launched an all-out assault on the Sulu group on Tuesday morning, using fighter jets to rain down heavy artillery fire and bombs on the now-beleaguered Kampung Tanduo where the men were hiding.
After the airstrike, ground troops moved in for the “mopping up” operations, going from door-to-door and advancing slowly over the uneven terrain surrounding the coastal village to hunt down the armed militants.
Despite reports of the rising number of Sulu deaths, however, the Kiram clan said yesterday it only believes that 10 of its men have fallen, suggesting the use of propaganda by Malaysia to claim success over its attack on the Filipinos.
Spokesman Abraham Idjirani said the family wants Malaysia to permit foreign journalists, including those from the Philippines, to enter the conflict zone in Lahad Datu, Sabah to confirm the Sulu death toll.
“You must allow the foreign and local media into the conflict areas to verify their claims. Until that is done, everything is subject to debate,” he was quoted in The Philippine Star as saying yesterday.
Idjirani, who was speaking on behalf of Jamalul, said information received from Agbimuddin confirmed that only 10 members of the “royal” Sulu army have been killed since Malaysia launched attacks last Friday.
“We call it the March 1 Massacre,” he was quoted in Philippine network ABN-CBS News as saying.
In an ABN-CBS News broadcast yesterday, Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Raul Hernandez said the government was still trying to verify the number of Filipino casualties in Sabah, saying it could only rely on information offered by the Malaysian authorities.
Agbimuddin last contacted his family in the Philippines at 2.30pm yesterday, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, saying he and his men were still alive and on the run but were suffering from hunger.