At least 19 Filipinos are in Malaysian custody after they were intercepted while allegedly trying to enter Sabah late Wednesday, Malaysia’s Bernama news agency reported Thursday.
The Bernama report quoted Eastern Sabah Security Command director-general (Esscom) Datuk Mohammad Mentek as saying the 19 included seven men, four women and eight children.
Mohammad Mentek said the 19 Filipinos arrived in a boat at 8:45 p.m. and tried to enter Sabah at the Felda Sahabat in Lahad Datu.
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/ge/newsgeneral.php?id=1002263
“The illegal immigrants were detained after (our forces received) information from the public,” the Bernama report quoted him as saying.
Lahad Datu had been the site of an armed confrontation between Malaysian forces and followers of the late Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III last February and March.
Kiram died last October but sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani said the sultan left instructions to his followers to continue efforts to reclaim Sabah.
Mohammad Mentek said an initial investigation showed the boat carrying the 19 Filipinos was heading to Sinakut in Labian, Felda Sahabat. — ELR, GMA News
