Malaysia hopes to deport Filipino gunmen soon

Malaysia hopes the now infamous Filipino gunmen, currently cornered by Malaysian security forces at a coastal area near Lahad Datu, Sabah will be deported soon.

Home minister Datuk Seri Hishammudin Hussein said he hopes the deportation process will be carried out without any incidents of blood shed or lost of lives.

“We are currently in the process of negotiating the deportation process,” he said at a press conference here today.

Hishammudin, however declined to elaborate on the negotiation process.

“That is not for me to say. Let us wait for details and further development from the Sabah police chief,” he said.

Hishamuddin also confirmed that the gunmen are not militants.

“Today morning, I have spoken to Foreign minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and we are in close contact with the Philippines government.

“Both parties as well as other intelligence sources have told me that the group is not militant in nature. Instead, they are supporters of the of the Sultan of Sulu,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hishamuddin took a potshot at those including the foreign media, who speculated and blew the issue out of propotion.

“It is very wrong and irresponsible for people, including the international media to speculate and make accusations.

“As far as we are concerned, the Malaysian government never compromised the rights and safety of the Sabahans in this matter.

“There was never once, the Sabahan’s safety was at stake or affected. It has only been three days. Let’s see what happens.

“All I can say now, whatever happened was under control and it was within the powers of those in charge,” he added.

On Feb 13, the country’s security forces surrounded a group of armed foreigners clad in military fatigues for encroaching into the waters off Lahad Datu.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar had said that the group had demanded that it be recognised as the “Royal Sulu Sultanate Army”.