Hunt Continues to Track Down Surviving Sabah Rebels

The Malaysian military has widened its hunt for Philippine muslim militants in Sabah state on Borneo island.

The expanded 'mopping up' operation followed this week’s all-out assault with fighter jets, mortars and hundreds of troops.

Security authorities' failure to end the crisis which started three weeks ago is politically-awkward for the government of Prime Minister Najib Razak, with elections due to be held by the middle of the year.

Malaysian police have been tight-lipped about casualties, but local reports say at least 27 people have died since the siege began in mid-February.

Sen Lam from Radio Australia is speaking with Yong Kai Ping, CEO of Kini-TV in Kuala Lumpur, which has been following the situation in Lahad Datu.

“After the air strike yesterday morning, the police carved out a 4-kilometre area, a restricted area, where they're conducting a mopping exercise, trying to chase away or arrest the so-called Sulu intruders. And just now, during a press conference (on Wednesday) the Defence minister showed a picture of thirteen bodies, where thirteen (members of the) Sulu army had been killed.”

Q. Did the authorities make mention of what happened to the rest of the Filipino militants - did they escape to sea, or are they still lurking about in the oil palm plantation?

“Ya, I think they actually extended the restricted area or the 'red zone' because the inspector-general of Malaysian police said some of the intruders escaped. They're very tight-lipped on alot of information - there's very little we have from the authorities.”

Q. Any word on Malaysian casualties?

“I think the official figure is still 'two-plus-six' in two incidents - all are policemen, but in (two) different areas. Two policemen were shot dead in Lahad Datu, and six policemen in Semporna, where they were ambushed.”

Q. And of course you have people (reporters) on the ground in Sabah, in Lahad Datu. What are Sabahans telling them about how the federal authorities have handled this three-week siege? Are Sabahans quite fed up that it's gone on for so long?

“I think the general feeling is one of fear and alot of the unconfirmed rumours going around. I think the authorities have not been able to release or give the public a clearer picture. That's why it's encouraging the fear - the fear is that it might spread to other areas - some people are stocking up on food and water already. The authorities have not been able to really come clean on the whole thing, ya.”

Q. Of course, the issue of illegal immigration of Filipino muslims to Sabah over the years - that's gone on for some time. Can you tell us about that - how that has complicated the picture?

“Ya. Alot of people are blaming or saying that all these problems are a long time coming. Everything is linked to the 'I-C' project, that they've given to Sabah immigrants.”

Q. I-Cs are identity cards?

“Identity card projects, which is called 'Project M' or 'Project Mahathir', to turn this state that's controlled by the (Malaysian) opposition, into a state where ... the UMNO, the ruling party UMNO itself? There're many questions surrounding the growth of population in Sabah, that it's extremely high. There was some calculation that growth for the last few decades, the growth was around 300-per cent.

Q. And the allegations are that these southern Filipino Muslims were given identity cards, in exchange for votes?

“Ya, ya in exchange for votes and I think the other issue is that the locals - the majority ethnic group, used to be Kadazans and they're Christians. So I think the accusation on the ground is that they (the ruling UMNO) are encouraging more Muslims into the state - which you know, will be supporting UMNO, which is representing the Bumiputras (the Malays). That's the political fault line underneath the issues. And with the growth of uncontrolled borderline or border, so the Filipinos can travel back and forth.”