Encroachment Incident in Sabah Will be Resolved Soon: Police

LAHAD DATU, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- Police have assured the public that the intrusion by a group of armed Filipinos in Kampung Tanduo some 130 km from Lahad Datu town in eastern Sabah state will be resolved soon. Without specifying when the situation would end, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said the crisis, which had been ongoing since Feb 12, would be resolved "as soon as possible" and advised the public not to be worried. Asked on the action to be taken after the expiry of the period given by the authorities to the group last Sunday, Khalid said: "Wait and see." He said action could be taken "at any time" on the 150 intruders who continued to remain in Kampung Tanduo and refused to leave. "We will end the present stand-off and I advise people not to worry. God willing, we will solve the matter as soon as possible," he told reporters on Tuesday. When asked whether negotiations were still being conducted with the group, Khalid said: "I do not want to comment on that matter (negotiation)". Khalid said police were unaware about claims by some parties that four Kiram family members (relatives of the Sultanate of Sulu) were purportedly arrested by the authorities. Earlier, after receiving a briefing on the progress of the incident in Komtek Sahabat 16, Battalion 17, the General Operations Force (PGA) Felda Sahabat, Khalid said the incursion by a group claiming to be soldiers of the Sultanate of Sulu remains the responsibility of the Malaysian police. He said the incident is still being handled as a national security issue with operations involving other security agencies. "So far there are no external elements interfering in police efforts to resolve the issue. We will not permit any such intervention in national security affairs," he added. -- BERNAMA