New Post has been published on The Rakyat Post
New Post has been published on http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2014/07/13/recent-attack-retaliation-strict-security-says-esscom-commander/
Recent attack could be retaliation to our strict security, says Esscom commander
Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) does not rule out the recent attack on security forces in the Mabul Smart Water Bungalow Resort, off Semporna, as the gunmen’s way to retaliate against the strict security in the east coast of Sabah.
“It is a pity that it was at the expense of one of our men,” said Esscom Commander Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun during a press conference in Semporna this afternoon.
He said initial investigations revealed that the gunmen had quietly approached the resort at around 11.10pm last night with the intention to kidnap, but saw the Malaysian security forces instead.
“They fired random shots, killing one policeman, Corporal Ab Rajah Jamuan, and were believed to have fled with Constable Zakia Aliep.”
He said security forces, namely the police, army, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and Esscom are combing the area, and will leave no stone unturned.
“The suspects wore black shirts and army camouflaged pants.
“They were all wearing masks and heavily armed,” he said, adding currently, they have yet to trace the masked gunmen, but will be working round the clock to locate them.
He said Esscom will also be deploying more assets to affected areas, as well as eastern Sabah Security Zone areas, and double their efforts to trace the gunmen, believed to have come from the Philippines.
“We hope the people would stop coming up with speculations… please allow us to conduct our investigation and catch the culprits,” said Abdul Rashid, adding that the public should put the matter to rest as a show of respect to the victims’ family members.
This is his first assignment after being appointed as Esscom commander just few days ago by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“The operations we are doing now is an ongoing one. We do not restrict to doing patrols and operations only when something like happens. It is a daily routine,” he said.
The Rakyat Post earlier reported that Ab Rajah was having a late dinner with his colleague, Zakia, when they were ambushed by a group of armed men close to midnight.
An exchange of gunshots between the masked men and security forces led to Ab Rajah’s death, and his body was then sent to Tawau Hospital for post-mortem at about 10.30am today.
Meanwhile, Najib sent his condolences to the slain corporal via a message on his official Twitter account at 1.53pm.
A screenshot of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s tweet.
“Takziah kpd keluarga Kpl Rajah Jamuan yg gugur di Mabul. Kita akan lakukan sedaya upaya utk cari dan selamatkan Konstabel Zakia Aleip.”
(Condolences to the family of Cpl Rajah Jamuan who died in Mabul. We will do our best to find and save Constable Zakia Aleip.)
