A Malaysian soldier was killed in an exchange of fire between security forces and members of the self-styled ‘Sulu royal army' at Sungai Nyamuk in Lahad Datu this morning.

Meanwhile, it was announced late this evening that another soldier died and another injured from a road accident.

NONE Armed Forces chief Gen Zulkifeli Mohd Zain ( left ) said the security forces accosted five intruders at 7.45am today when they were mopping up the area around Sungai Nyamuk, near Tanjung Batu.

Zulkifeli ( left ) said the intruders retreated to the upper parts of Sungai Nyamuk and the soldiers trailed them.

"The security forces made contact with the intruders about 10.45am at the upper part of Sungai Nyamuk and a second round of gunfire took place.

"During the gun battle, the security forces killed three terrorists, but unfortunately, a member of the security forces was also killed," Zulkifli told a press conference late this afternoon.

Bodies of two enemies found

Late this evening, Sabah police chief Hamza Taib revised the number of intruders killed this morning to two, based on the bodies found.

"No, I didn’t deny (what Zulkifeli said). Maybe he (spoke based on) the preliminary report. Maybe the number of enemy who were shot were three, but only two corpses were found.

"Maybe the other one was only injured and he managed to escape,” he added.

He said that the gun battle happened between 9am and 1.50pm today. The deceased is 24 years old, from Kelantan. Another soldier was injured during the firefight.

They are the first casualties by the Malaysian security forces since Ops Daulat began on March 2.

Prior to this, eight policemen had been reported killed, two at Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu on March 1 and six at Kampung Sri Jaya and Kampung Simunul, Semporna on March 3.

To date, a total of nine police officers and soldiers have been killed since the Filipino militants intruded into Kampung Tanduo on Feb 12.

With the three new deaths, 57 armed intruders, including former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) commander Haji Musa, have been shot to death since Feb 12.

While the security forces claimed to have killed 57, so far they could only find 23 bodies.

Road accident

On the fatal road accident, Hamza said that the incident happened when the deceased was travelling from Lahad Duta town on a military vehicle to Cederawasih.

"He was hurt badly, and while he was receiving medical treatment (at the hospital), he passed away,” he said, adding that another soldier, 35 years old, who was in the same truck, suffered facial injuries.

While the number of detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 remain at 97, Hamza said that the number of arrests under the Immigration Act 1959/63 increased to 156.

When asked whether today’s gunfight will affect the chances of the Kampung Tanduo villagers to get back to their homes, he replied "no", but added that the security forces will “do something” to the village following a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin this afternoon.

"Maybe we will allow them to go back, maybe not. So it depends on the outcome of the meeting,” he added.

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