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News Desk

The Star

Publication Date : 27-02-2013

Malaysian police are in charge of the operations against the armed Sulu group and will not allow any external forces to interfere in the country’s internal security.

“As far as security operations are concerned, it is an internal matter. No foreign country is involved or allowed to interfere. We are in charge,” Deputy Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said.

He was clarifying the confusion that the operations had been taken over by the National Security Council (NSC).

The police are playing the key role in Ops Sulu to handle the stand-off with the Sulu armed group at Tanduo village in Felda Sahabat 17, about 165km from Lahad Datu.

“We are all working towards solving it,” said Khalid, adding that the police had their strategy but could not reveal it.

Yesterday, Khalid went to the Felda settlement, where the Malaysian forces had secured a 500m ring around Tanduo village, in which the Sulu patriots had occupied since February 9, and blocked off any land or sea escape by them.

He was accompanied by the army’s First Division Mejar Jen Mohd Zaki Mokthar, Bukit Aman public order director Salleh Mat Rashid and Sabah police commissioner Hamza Taib.

Khalid said that the police was coordinating well with the armed forces and maritime units.

“We are in the same team but the matter is a police responsibility,” he said.