ATM, PDRM Collaboration Among Factors For 'Ops Daulat' Success

LAHAD DATU (Sabah, Malaysia), March 26 (Bernama) -- Collaboration between the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) and the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), with the right selection of equipment and appropriate tactics are among factors attributing to the success of the security forces battling Sulu terrorists under 'Ops Daulat'. Army Chief Gen Zulkifli Zainal Abidin noted that such collaboration was rare in other countries. "The success was due to the close cooperation between ATM and the police under the leadership of the two forces," he said in an interview over 'Selamat Pagi Malaysia' (Good Morning Malaysia) programme on Tuesday. He said, the collaboration should be continued and given priority as such togetherness and preparedness was imperative to defend the nation's sovereignty. "The collaboration implemented is not something new as it had been carried out when the country was fighting against the communists during the Emergency in 1948. "It is generally known that the police maintain security within the country while ATM defends the nation from external threats. (Thus) Both forces are needed for the stability and peace of the country," said Zulkifli. He added that the security forces optimised using suitable equipment for 'Ops Daulat', for the effective mopping-up exercise. Terrorists from southern Philippines set up their hideout in Kampung Tanjung Batu, 130km from Lahad Datu after intruding into the country on Feb 12. To date, 65 terrorists have been killed and 10 security forces died in battles against the Sulu terrorists in Sabah, one of the two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. -- BERNAMA