Security forces have moved into Tanjung Batu, the neighbouring village of Kampung Tanduo where an operation to weed out Filipino intruders first began yesterday.

lahad datu 050313 ismail omar "The operation has been expanded to cover Tanjung Batu. The operation began at 3pm today. The police and armed forces moved into Tanjung Batu while tracking the intruders at around 4.15pm.

"There, gunfights occurred. We believe we have killed some enemies there but we cannot confirm the numbers at this moment," Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar ( left ) told a press conference at Felda Sahabat residence this evening.

However, Ismail confirmed that Malaysian security forces were unscathed.

Tanjung Batu villagers had claimed that their village - which is about 5km from Kampung Tanduo - was taken over by around 50 intruders as early as Monday, triggering a mass exodus on the very day.

azlan This was the day before the air-and-ground strike of Kampung Tanduo, where more than 100 intruders were believed to have holed up.

Previously, Malaysiakini broke the news that Tanjung Batu villagers were forced to flee after the armed intruders were spotted on Monday morning.

Among those who escaped claimed that there are some residents who were unable to escape and are currently held by the intruders.

Asked on this, Ismail said: "God willing, there is none (trapped in the village)".

He also rubbished claims of the intruders are holding Malaysian security forces hostage, stating that the police has never received any such information.

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