VIDEO | 4:59 min

Inspector-general of police Ismail Omar said five police officers were killed yesterday in an ambused by an armed group in Semporna, Sabah.

"Yesterday evening, we received information there was an armed group in Kampung Sri Jaya Simunul, Sempoerna.

NONE "Based on this information, a police team from the Semporna district police headquarters entered the place but were ambushed when they arrived," he told a press conference in Felda Sabahat Residence, Lahad Datu.

The police managed to kill two gunmen during the firefight. Police have encircled the village, which is on stilts over sea water, to track down remaining gunmen.

"I have bolstered security forces around the area and we are still controlling the situation," said Ismail.

The Semporna incident followed the killing of two police personnel on Friday in Lahad Datu, where a shootout with armed intruders loyal to the Sulu Sultanate took place.

Families should know first

Ismail said the police are trying to determine whether the group in Kampung Sri Jaya Simunul are related to the group involved in the Lahad Datu standoff.

However, he said that his men believed that the gunmen to be foreigners.

With a total death toll of seven in two days thus far, this is likely one of the worst assault on Malaysia's security forces since the communist insurgency.

Asked if the gunmen had taken any hostages, Ismail replied: "Not for now, I have yet to receive any information.

Ismail declined to offer specifics, stating that the information should first go to the families of the fallen.

"We want the families to know first rather than through the press. We will give the details later, but not at this moment," he said.