The photograph of a man allegedly beheaded in Lahad Datu, Sabah which has appeared online, is an old one and meant to deceive Malaysians, said Armed Forces deputy chief of staff Maj-Gen Abdul Aziz Ibrahim.

NONE He revealed that the photograph was not taken at Lahad Datu at all, but originated from a neighbouring country years ago.

"The words 'Lahad Datu' was printed on the bottom to show what was happening in Lahad Datu and this shows ill intention by certain quarters towards the government," he told Bernama today.

Condemning the act, Abdul Aziz did not dismiss the possibility that whoever had published the photo in the website, had done so for fun.

Meanwhile, in defending the government’s handling of the crisis involving armed militants loyal to the Sulu sultanate, Abdul Aziz told the national news agency that Malaysia is bound by the Geneva Convention, which states that action must be in accordance with the law and not carried out at will.

"We cannot act without knowing the actual reason for their presence and our action must be according to the set protocol," he was quoted as saying.

The standoff, which is in its third week, has already cost the lives of eight police officers and 19 Sulu intruders, in clashes around Kampung Tanduo and Semporna, while an armed group is believed to have landed in Kunak.

Earlier today, inspector-general of police Ismail Omar was unable to confirm or deny an Utusan Malaysia report which claimed a police officer, one of six ambushed and killed by the armed intruders in Kampung Sri Jaya Simunul in Semporna on Saturday, was beheaded.

The killed gunmen are yet to be unidentified. ( topmost photo )

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