Malaysian police said they had released 32 armed Filipinos arrested earlier this week on suspicion of trying to join an incursion by Islamic militants in an eastern state, media reports said Friday.
Sabah state police chief Hamza Taib was quoted by Malaysian media saying the 32 men would be deported back to the Philippines after investigators concluded they had no link with the ongoing incursion.
More than 200 armed followers of a self-styled sultan landed in the state of Sabah on Borneo island in February, reviving a centuries-old land claim by the long-defunct Sulu sultanate, once based in the southern Philippines.
Fighting between the militants and security forces has killed at least 68 Filipinos and 10 Malaysian security personnel, authorities have said.
But Hamza said police determined that the 32 men, who were caught in a wooden motor boat off Sabah armed with guns and machetes, were part of a team of campaigners for a mayoral election in the southern Philippines whose boat had veered off course.
"Those who enter Sabah illegally bearing weapons will be detained and investigated... although we know that in the Philippines, people having guns and weapons is like us having a handphone," Hamza was quoted saying by the website of Malaysia's The Star newspaper.
Authorities are still trying to flush out scattered militant remnants and their sympathisers to end Malaysia's worst security crisis in recent years.
For centuries, people have moved back and forth across the porous sea border separating Sabah and the adjacent southern Philippines, known for its lawlessness and Islamic insurgencies.
The Sabah incursion has aroused heated sentiments on both sides, with Malaysians outraged by the territorial breach, while many in the Philippines have voiced support for the militants
AFP
Fri Apr 12 2013
Tumpuan Isnin –20 Mei 2024
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan di Astro AWANI.
Jenazah suspek serang balai polis masih belum dituntut
Jenazah lelaki yang maut ditembak dalam insiden serangan di Balai Polis Ulu Tiram di sini pada Jumaat masih belum dituntut ahli keluarganya di Jabatan Forensik Hospital Sultan Ismail (HSI) di sini.
AWANI 7:45 [19/05/2024] - Tamatkan kekejaman | Lelaki cuba rampas submesingan | Ancaman ugutan bunuh
- Lagi balai polis diserang, suspek cuba rampas submesingan
- Anwar desak Amerika Syarikat henti salur senjata kepada Israel
- Teresa Kok terima ugutan bunuh bersama dua peluru hidup
- Gunung Ibu meletus lagi, panduduk tujuh kampung dipindahkan
- Anwar desak Amerika Syarikat henti salur senjata kepada Israel
- Teresa Kok terima ugutan bunuh bersama dua peluru hidup
- Gunung Ibu meletus lagi, panduduk tujuh kampung dipindahkan
JSJK kesan trend iklan produk palsu salah guna imej individu terkenal
Polis menasihati orang ramai supaya sentiasa berhati-hati dalam melakukan pembelian barangan kesihatan menerusi internet.
Hargai peranan pasukan keselamatan negara - Raja Permaisuri Agong
Raja Permaisuri Agong, Raja Zarith Sofiah bertitah bahawa rakyat perlu menghargai peranan pasukan keselamatan dengan lebih berterima kasih.
DAP mahu teruskan legasi perjuangan Karpal Singh
DAP akan meneruskan legasi perjuangan tokoh politik parti dan bekas pengerusinya mendiang Datuk Seri Karpal Singh bersandarkan Perlembagaan Persekutuan.
TPM Fadillah tiba di Bali untuk hadir mesyuarat kepimpinan tertinggi Forum Air Dunia
Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof akan mewakili Malaysia dalam mesyuarat kepimpinan tertinggi di Forum Air Dunia (WWF) kali ke-10 di sini bermula esok.
Pekan Ulu Tiram perlukan 'peremajaan', tukar imej 'pekan koboi'
Program peremajaan itu perlu bagi meningkatkan lagi taraf ekonomi, pelancongan dan keselamatan di kawasan terbabit.
Polis siasat ugutan bunuh terhadap Teresa Kok
Polis mengesahkan menerima laporan mengenai ugutan terhadap Ahli Parlimen Seputeh, Teresa Kok Suh Sim pada Ahad.
AWANI Ringkas: Serangan balai polis | Ancaman terhadap Ahli Parlimen
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.