Army chief denies military take-over of Sabah situation

The Malaysian Army will not be taking over operations from the police and will continue to act in a support role, even as calls grow louder for an end to the stand-off in Sabah involving intruders from the 'Sulu sultanate'.

"We are still a joint operation with the police being the frontliner," Armed Forces chief general Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin told Astro Awani today.

Zulkifeli's statement squashed rumours on the ground that the army would be leading the operations this evening onwards.

The supporting role of the military has been repeatedly questioned, although it was understood that even now the army are sending more reinforcements to assist the garrison currently at Lahad Datu, Semporna and Kunak.

Following the death of seven policemen in the past two days, the public and even some in the police themselves are calling for a more decisive action, including a more prominent role being played by the military.