The Malaysian government rejected the offer by self-proclaimed Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III to hold ‘talks’ with Malaysia on how to resolve the East Sabah crisis that has claimed the lives of 61 people including eight Malaysian police personnel.

Defence minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he will not accept the offer which, Kiram wants to take place in a country outside Malaysia.

“I don’t think I should accept what Jamalul Kiram calls as an ‘offer’ to negotiate with Malaysia outside the country,” he told Astro Awani.

Ahmad Zahid said this is because Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has stressed that the Sulu intruders have to first lay down their arms.

Zahid said the intruders also have to surrender themselves unconditionally if they want any sort of negotiations.

“I don’t think we should accept the brutality by them who acted like terrorists and only now they want to negotiate,” he explained.

Kiram, in an interview with Yahoo! Southeast Asia expressed his desire to have talks with Malaysia on condition that the peace talks must not be held in Malaysia.

“If there is a chance (that) we can talk to them, if they are willing to talk to me, I said my door is always open.

“My door is open anytime but for me to go down to Malaysia? No. Perhaps somewhere in a neutral country near Malaysia. Maybe Singapore, Brunei, or Hong Kong,” he told the online portal.

Kiram’s earlier call for ceasefire was also rejected by the Malaysian government.