The police shot dead two men, suspected to be members of the Sulu Rebel Army and the 'driving force' behind the recruitment of new members, in the vicinity of a shophouse in Penampang Baru, Sabah yesterday.
Initial police investigations revealed that the duo, in their 30s and 50s, had arrived from Kota Kinabalu and attempted an armed robbery in the area.
In the 5pm incident, a police team intercepted a vehicle in which the two men were travelling. At that juncture, the duo tried to resist and the police were forced to open fire, killing them on the spot.
According to a police source, police surveillance on the two men, about a few weeks ago had revealed they tried to recruit new members, spread the so-called Sulu Sultanate ideology in Sabah, as well as preach elements of violence.
"The suspects, who came from Kota Kinabalu were also attempting to commit an armed robbery in the area.
"The police are now tracking down the remnants of this group and they are also believed to be getting active off the east coast of Sabah," he said when contacted by Bernama.
In February last year, the country was stunned when armed Sulu rebels from southern Philippines, intruded into Lahad Datu and Semporna in Sabah's east coast, which saw 10 members of the national security forces killed.
However, through a joint army and police operation, dubbed 'Operasi Daulat', the rebels were routed. More than 100 rebels were killed and hundreds of their followers captured in the state.
Following the incident, the Malaysian Government set up a security shield to thwart violations, kidnapping and smuggling in Sabah, named ESSZone (Eastern Sabah Security Zone) and ESSCom (Eastern Sabah Security Command).
Meanwhile in PENAMPANG, Sabah, residents panicked when they heard gunshots in the business district of Penampang Baru.
A man in his 30s, who declined to be identified said he was busy at work in a food store when he heard a loud thud.
"I rushed out of the shop and saw a group of armed men wearing ski-masks and firing shots in the direction of some occupants in a four-wheel drive vehicle," he said.
The food store employee who was hiding in the vicinity said he also spotted a group of policemen arriving at the scene, about 15 minutes later and inspecting the bodies of two men who were earlier, gunned down in the vehicle.
He said he also saw the police take the bodies away in two black plastic bags.
A Bernama survey found that the police had cordoned off two business blocks to prevent the public from entering the area.
Bernama
Fri Oct 31 2014
A police team intercepted a vehicle in which the two men were travelling. The duo tried to resist and the police were forced to open fire.
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Ahad, 28 April 2024.
Mesyuarat Khas WEF: Dunia perlukan persaingan sihat dalam transisi ke Orde Baharu - Menteri Luar Arab Saudi
Menteri Luar Negeri Arab Saudi, Putera Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud berkata dunia memerlukan persaingan sihat dalam transisi daripada Orde Dunia Lama kepada Orde Baharu. Jelasnya, persaingan ini akan memberi manfaat dalam bentuk kos pengeluaran lebih rendah, perkembangan inovasi dan pelaburan lebih baik. #MesyuaratKhasWEF #WEF
Mesyuarat Khas WEF: Dunia saling tidak percaya akibat kebergantungan dipersenjatakan - Naib Presiden Suruhanjaya Eropah
Naib Presiden Suruhanjaya Eropah, Josep Borrell Fontelles berkata fenomena hilang kepercayaan yang melanda komuniti antarabangsa ketika ini adalah akibat kebergantungan yang dipersenjatakan oleh beberapa pihak. Jelasnya, situasi ini boleh membawa kepada pengasingan negara-negara tertentu dari pentas global, seterusnya menghambat pelaksanaan agenda antarabangsa. #MesyuaratKhasWEF #WEF
Mesyuarat Khas WEF: Negara-negara selatan global hilang percaya akibat ‘leteran’ negara maju - Menteri Luar Sri Lanka
Menteri Luar Negeri Sri Lanka, Mohamed Uvais Mohamed Ali Sabry berkata negara-negara selatan global hilang percaya kepada inisiatif antarabangsa akibat campur tangan berlebihan dalam proses membuat keputusan di peringkat domestik oleh negara-negara utara global. Jelasnya, negara-negara maju perlu berhenti memaksakan penyelesaian kepada semua masalah yang timbul keatas negara-negara membangun. #MesyuaratKhasWEF #WEF
Mesyuarat Khas WEF: Hubungan China-AS kelam - Pakar
Pengasas dan Pengerusi Wusawa Advisory Inc., Qian Liu berkata hubungan China dan Amerika Syarikat tidak akan bertambah baik untuk tahun-tahun mendatang. Jelasnya, kedua-dua negara menggunakan momokkan imej negara pesaing dalam usaha menangani isu-isu domestik, yang secara tidak langsung merugikan dunia. #MesyuaratKhasWEF #WEF
Mesyuarat Khas WEF: China akan atasi AS, sedang belajar menggunakan kuasanya keatas dunia - Pakar
Pengasas dan Pengerusi Wusawa Advisory Inc., Qian Liu berkata China dilandasan yang betul untuk mengatasi Amerika Syarikat sebagai ekonomi terbesar dunia dalam masa beberapa tahun. Jelasnya, meskipun pertumbuhan ekonomi China perlahan, namun saiz pertumbuhan itu secara relatifnya lebih besar daripada keseluruhan ekonomi Arab Saudi dan Switzerland. #MesyuaratKhasWEF #WEF
Bangladesh buka semula sekolah walaupun cuaca masih panas
Pelajar kembali ke sekolah di seluruh Bangladesh walaupun negara itu dilanda gelombang panas berlarutan yang mendorong pembelajaran secara bersemuka ditangguhkan, hujung minggu lalu.
Filipina tangguh kelas secara bersemuka kerana cuaca panas
Filipina menangguhkan kelas bersemuka di semua sekolah kerajaan selama dua hari, susulan cuaca panas melampau dan mogok oleh pemandu jeepney atau bas mini di seluruh negara.
Puting beliung landa bandar Guangzhou
Puting beliung melanda bandar Guangzhou di selatan China dan mengorbankan lima nyawa dan 33 lagi cedera.
Menurut laporan CCTV, puting beliuang itu melanda daerah Baiyun di Guangzhou pada petang Sabtu.
Menurut laporan CCTV, puting beliuang itu melanda daerah Baiyun di Guangzhou pada petang Sabtu.
Tak dapat jadi TPM, Menteri Luar Thailand letak jawatan
Menteri Luar Thailand, Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara meletak jawatan secara mengejut hari ini, selepas tidak dinamakan sebagai timbalan perdana menteri dalam rombakan Kabinet.