Despite a 24-hour lull without any clashes, Ops Daulat, which entered its 10th day today, the security forces continued their forays into Tanjung Batu and Sungai Nyamuk where the remnants of Sulu terrorists have split into small groups.

The police roadblocks outside the operation areas have also been tightened to prevent the terrorists from fleeing the battle ground.

Ops Daulat was strengthened with the arrival of two light-weight and twin-engine multipurpose helicopters, Agusta Westland AW109 owned by the army at Felda Sahabat 16 today.

Armed Forces chief Gen Zulkifeli Mohd Zin said yesterday that the end was in sight as the security forces were piling pressure on the terrorists by bringing in 12 tanks with chain wheels, several air force helicopters and naval warships in stages to plug escape routes by air and sea.

The Ops Daulat offensive was launched on March 5 after the Sulu terrorists, who had holed up in Kampung Tanduo since Feb 12, killed eight policemen on March 1 and 2 in the village and in Kampung Simunul, Semporna.

Two soldiers also died in the operation while 56 Sulu terrorists have been killed so far.

As the offensive is being intensified, Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar today reminded the people and journalists against going into the Ops Daulat zone, and advised the people to continue to extend their cooperation for the success of the operations.

Hisham: Investigation possible

He said security forces detained a man at a roadblock in Tanjung Labian today and seized two swords and three machetes he was carrying in a package on his motorcycle at 10.40 am.

The man, in his 30s, was taken to the Cenderawasih police station for questioning to determine his background, he told reporters in Lahad Datu.

So far the security forces detained 97 people suspected of being linked to the terrorists and 156 others for encroaching the prohibited zone.

In SANDAKAN, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the government did not dismiss the possibility of setting up a royal commission of inquiry or opening a White Paper to investigate claims that third parties were behind the terrorist intrusion.

He said a thorough investigation needed to be done to find out the real motive for the intrusion including if there were any parties which underwrote the terrorists from the southern Philippines to undermine the country's stability and sovereignty.

Hishammuddin, who took time off to visit L/Corporal Mohd Zariman Ibrahim, Corporal Affendi Rusli and Corporal Khairul Anuar Md Isa who were injured in 'Ops Daulat', said overall, the security situation in Sabah including in Tawau, Semporna and Sandakan had improved. 

- Bernama