| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| Malaysian security forces brace for confrontation |
| 2013-02-28 |
| Malaysian security forces are bracing for confrontation with the armed followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III after they defied a deadline set by Malaysia for them to leave the territory. The sultan’s brother Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram said they were ready to face an attack. He said, “We are fine. We expect the Malaysian forces to attack today (Tuesday). We are ready to defend ourselves, we are not afraid. We are not afraid because we know we are right. "This is our land. We are prepared, we are waiting. We will not attack (but) we will defend ourselves.” On Tuesday, Philippine president Aquino made a televised appeal for Kiram and his followers to end their “foolhardy act” and come back to the Philippines. Malaysian security forces are reportedly in position around Lahad Datu. Malaysia’s Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said, “We are set to end the standoff." Meanwhile, Azzimudie admitted the food blockade is taking its toll on the sultan’s followers. He said, “We are already running out of food because of the blockade but we are not leaving. We will survive because we can eat leaves that animals eat. This is our homeland and we will live here." Meanwhile, Phillipine foreign affairs secretary Albert del Rosario said yesterday he had sent to Malaysia Tuesday night the government’s request for an extension of deadline for the sultan's followers in Lahad Datu to leave the area. He said, “I put through a request for another deadline. I said we should be given more time, precisely for processing that information and to give the Kirams a chance to think about what the President had said. I asked for several days. I did not specify.” Del Rosario also asked the Malaysian government to permit a humanitarian ship to dock in Lahad Datu to bring food to the Filipinos and fetch those who want to go back to their families in the Philippines. |
| Posted by:ryuge |