The heirs of the Sulu sultanate has called for a ceasefire between the security forces in Malaysia and their followers who are still engaged in gunfights in Sabah.

The unilateral ceasefire was declared as of 12.30pm today by Abraham Idjirani, the spokesperson for the self-proclaimed Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III.

According to reports in Filipino media, the ceasefire aims to "avoid more bloodshed and crimes" the Kiram family announced at a press conference in Taguig City,

“The call for the unilateral ceasfire of his royal highness Sultan Jamalul Kiram III is in view of the reported massacre committed by the Malaysian authorit[ies] against 40 innocent civilians in Lahad Datu yesterday (Wednesday)…,” Idjirani said, according to a report in Inquirer Global Nation.

The Kiram family said the followers of the sultan will not take any action and will stay wherever they are now.

They hope that the Malaysian government will reciprocate so that the families of the 'royal army' will be able to fetch home their fighters.

This announcement follows the statement by United Nations secretary- general Ban Ki-moon today asking for a peaceful resolution of the crisis.

On Tuesday, Malaysian security forces launched several bombing runs in several locations in Lahud Datu where more than a hundred armed followers of 'crown prince' Agmibuddin Kiram have been holed up there since February 9.

Idjirani had previously said they will not surrender and will fight to the end.

Violence first erupted on March 1 and the death toll so far on both sides has passed 40, with eight consisting of Malaysian police officers.

Weeks of negotiations since the intruders' landing on Feb 9 failed after repeated calls to surrender by the Malaysian authorities were ignored.