Malaysia adopts 'wait-and-see approach' on Sabah standoff

Malaysian security forces have adopted a cautious wait-and-see stance in the ongoing standoff with a group of armed Filipinos in Sabah.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said their government is aiming for a peaceful solution, adding that it was important to resolve the issue without bloodshed.

Claiming to be followers of the Sultan of Sulu, a group of around 300 Filipinos, some of whom were reportedly armed, had arrived in Sabah on February 9 and had engaged Malaysian forces in a standoff.

"The people are seeing how well we can manage any situation,” Muhyiddin said in a report of the news site The Star.

He admitted though that the standoff may have an effect on Malaysia's upcoming general elections.

Malaysian security forces had cordoned off the remote seaside area where some 150 gunmen who are followers of Kiram crossed through, The Star reported.

On the other hand, the Philippines has deployed six naval ships to Tawi-Tawi to prevent other relatives of Kiram from crossing the sea border.

Ultimatum 

On Thursday, the Malaysian government gave a 48-hour ultimatum to the Filipinos holed up in Kampung Tanduo to withdraw peacefully.

The Department of Foreign Affairs had requested Malaysia to extend their deadline to Tuesday.


Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram said on Friday that his Royal Army will be staying in Sabah and even have plans to build a house in northern Borneo.

Kiram is demanding to open up the talks on the Sabah dispute which is a territory both claimed by the Philippines and Malaysia.

The Sultanate of Sulu, whom Kiram is heir to has been leasing Northern Borneo to Europeans since the 1870s.

Kiram still receives a yearly compensation from the Malaysian government up to this date for the supposed “leasing” of the disputed territory.

President Benigno Aquino III earlier asked the armed group to give up peacefully because their actions may lead to an unwanted confrontation. However, Kiram shunned such requests from Malacanang.

Aquino said that Philippine government is continuously in touch with the Malaysian government and the Sultan's family to resolve the situation peacefully.-GMA News (February 23, 2013 11:30AM)