Malaysian security forces get green light to disarm sultanate followers - report

Malaysian security forces have received the green light to disarm followers of the Sulu sultanate who have occupied a village in Sabah, a Malaysian news site reported Tuesday.

The Star quoted Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib as saying: “It is only a question of right timing for us to act.”

Since the sultanate’s followers, led by Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram, occupied a village in Lahad Datu town three weeks ago, Malaysian authorities have so far set three deadlines for them to return to Sulu, but have decided not to act as efforts continue to seek a peaceful resolution to the matter.

However, on Tuesday, President Benigno Aquino III appealed to them to leave Sabah, saying the “point of no return” was “fast approaching.”

Kiram is brother to Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, who has refused to order his followers to return from Sabah, saying they were determined to stake their claim to the territory, which is historically part of the sultanate but was ceded by the British to its former colony, Malaysia.

The Philippines has sent a ship and offered to ferry back the sultanate’s followers but the Kirams have declined.-Interaksyon (February 26, 2013 9:59AM)