Zulkifeli speaks during a press conference in Felda Sahabat March 8, 2013.—Picture by Saw Siow FengLANGKAWI, March 25 — Armed Forces Chief Gen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin is confident the crisis involving a terrorist intrusion into Sabah will be resolved soon, with the support and cooperation of local residents.
He said, of late, the residents were getting bolder in providing information on the country’s enemies.
“Some villagers have even joined security forces in the operation to capture the Sulu terrorists who are getting weaker as their leaders have abandoned them and their armoury store.
“Public co-operation enabled the security forces to capture a Sulu terrorist general and his wife at a swamp in Semporna last Saturday,” he said, rejecting the views of some parties that the terrorists from southern Philippines would lead to a drawn-out guerrilla war.
Zulkifeli was speaking to reporters after lunch with Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, navy officers and the media on board the battleship, KD Kelantan, which was anchored off the Region 3 Marine headquarters, in conjunction with the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace 2013 (LIMA 2013) exhibition today.
To date, 65 terrorists have been shot dead and 110 captured under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, with 416 other people detained for various offences, including being at the prohibited zone of “Ops Daulat”.
Nevertheless, Zulkifeli did not rule out the possibility of fleeing Sulu terrorists returning as the security forces were ready for them.
“I just came back from Lahad Datu yesterday, we are now mopping up Kampung Tanjung Batu, and we will be in control of the area with our security forces,” he said. — Bernama
Source: themalaysianinsider.com
