DAY 3: 'Mopping-out' ops widens crisis zone area in Felda Sahabat

The ‘mopping-out’ operation dubbed as ‘Operasi Daulat’ from Malaysian security forces have entered the third day with the focusing on the crisis zone in Felda Sahabat 17, Lahad Datu.

Several areas in Kampung Tanduo where the terrorist are ‘surviving’ presently have been remained as “red zone” are and have been sealed off completely from unauthorized person to walk-in.

It is believed that at 9.15am early this morning, there was a shootout happened in Kampung Tanduo and the casualty from the incident is yet to be known.

Several fighter jets from Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM) were seen flying and circling Lahad Datu airspace but no airstrike was reported.

Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak also is scheduled to visit Lahad Datu today to monitor the development of 'Operasi Daulat'.

Yesterday, during the ‘mopping-out’ operation at 6.45am, security personnel was involved in a firefight with the terrorist from Royal Sulu Army which resulted a terrorist killed.

With the development, the joint-operation between police and Armed Forces have been widen into another four-kilometre square feet of the palm oil plantation.

The biggest highlight of the day was the revelation from Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein on mass graves that was found in Kampung Tanduo where nine bodies of the terrorists were found buried.

It is learnt that the bodies are the terrorists who were killed during the firefight with security personnel on last Friday.

Terrorist comrades were trying to disposed the bodies from getting discovered by the security forces.

The chilling moment also occurred at around 1.45pm, when a police forensic team and Crime Investigation Department (CID) team were shot when they were trying to examining the graves and the bodies.

Luckily, all of them safe and the retaliation firefight from security forces later managed to make the terrorist retreat to another unknown location inside the area.

So far, 13 gunmen are believed have been killed and massive ‘mopping-out’ operation also have been extended to another nearby location in Tanjung Batu.