Sulu sultan claims followers killed 8 Malaysian troops

MANILA, Philippines - The Sultanate of Sulu claimed yesterday that its forces led by a veteran guerrilla from Tawi-Tawi killed at least eight Malaysian soldiers in a shootout in Lahad Datu in Sabah.

Sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani said fighting broke out when a   reconnaissance patrol of the Royal Sulu Sultanate Army chanced upon a squad of Malaysian Special Forces in the hinterlands of Felda, Lahad Datu.

“Rajah Muda (crown prince) told me that the Malaysian forces who were secretly deployed from Sarawak were sneaking towards their camp while they were conducting morning prayer,” he said.

Idjiirani said the 50 sultanate fighters led by veteran guerrilla Oto Ubi spotted the 200 Malaysian soldiers and ambushed them.

The sultanate fighters opened fire as soon as the Malaysian soldiers were exposed in an open field, he added.

No casualties were reported on the Sultanate army, he said.

Idjirani said the aborted surprise attack on the sultanate fighters was an indication that Malaysia has disregarded the holy month of Ramadan in running after them.

“The Malaysians want to strike while Rajah Muda and his group were conducting their morning prayers,” he said.

Idjirani said  the encounter was not reported in the Malaysian media so as not to contradict a government announcement that Lahad Datu was already cleared of the sultanate forces and supporters.

Malaysia is now deploying troops from Sarawak because police and military forces in Sabah are reluctant to attack  the sultanate forces, he added.