The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) denied claims made by Malaysia's defense minister that security forces had killed 35 "militants" from Sulu who were supposedly trying to reach Sabah to disrupt elections there.

"We have checked with the Philippine Navy and the Eastern Mindanao Command and they have received no such report," AFP spokesperson Colonel Arnulfo Burgos told InterAksyon.

This was echoed by Colonel Edgard Arevalo, the Navy's spokesperson on West Philippine Sea issues.

Arevalo said he spoke to the commander of the Navy task force based in Tawi-Tawi at 2.25pm and received no confirmation about the supposed incident as claimed by Malaysian caretaker Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

NONE Acting Navy spokesperson Lieutenant Commander Gregory Fabic also said both the Western Command and Naval Task Force 62, which have jurisdiction over the area where the supposed incident happened, denied Ahmad Zahid's claim.

Both Navy officers declined to comment on why Zahid made his claim and said the Department of Foreign Affairs would be in a better position to do so.

Ahmad Zahid ( above ) claimed the militants were shot when they refused to turn back despite warnings not to cross into Malaysian waters.

Had the militants entered Malaysia, he said, "we would have taken them out."

Malaysia is holding general elections on May 5.

In February, more than 200 followers of the sultanate of Sulu went to Sabah to press their claim to the territory.

In March, a standoff between the sultanate's followers and Malaysian security forces erupted into violence.

- InterAksyon