Sabah tightens security after Zambo attack

MANILA, Philippines – Malaysia is tightening security in Sabah, particularly along its sea borders with the Philippines, due to the ongoing attack by Muslim rebel groups in Zamboanga City Monday, September 9.

Malaysian authorities are fearing a possible spillover from the attack, in which up to 400 suspected members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) have taken over 4 barangays in Zamboanga City early Monday morning.

The Star newspaper reported the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) is monitoring developments in the Philippine city.

“We have informed our security and defence to be on the alert and Esscom is also coordinating with security forces following the incident,” Esscom director general Datuk Mohammad was quoted by The Star as saying.

At least 6 were killed and 24 have been wounded in the Zamboanga attacks. Some 20 residents have been held hostage, the military said.

The MNLF troops came from Basilan, according to a military source. 

Escape to Sabah?

The report said authorities fear the rebels might flee towards Sabah – a plausible scenario given the history of the region.

Early this year, in February, around 80-100 followers of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, who said he is a descendant of the Sultan of Sulu, attempted to “reclaim” Sabah.

Kiram and his followers insisted that they remain in Sabah since it is their territory, and they staged an armed operation to claim the territory.

It resulted in several bloody assaults by Malaysian security forces trying to flush out the group.

The formation of the Esscom in April was a result of the said incident.

Kiram is associated with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chief Nur Misuari – both staunchly oppose the ongoing peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Misuari accused the Philippines and Malaysia of conspiring to derail peace treaty agreements. He criticized the GPH-MILF talks, and said the peace framework agreement being pushed in the talks would cause “a big war in Mindanao.”

Back in 2001, Misuari and his followers also launched a similar attack in Zamboanga to sabotage local elections.

They took dozens of hostages and left dozens more dead in Zamboanga and in nearby Jolo island, his home base. The MNLF later freed all the hostages after several days, in exchange for free passage out of the city.

Misuari fled to neighboring Malaysia, where he was subsequently arrested.

He was detained in police camps near Manila until 2008, when the government dropped all charges against him. – With reports from Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com