Top 7 developments in Lahad Datu on March 7

The Ops Daulat has now moved into Day 3. Below are some of the key events and developments that occured on March 7:

1. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has rejected call for ceasefire. He said the Sulu intruders must instead, lay down their arms and surrender unconditionally.

2. The government will be setting up a special security area in East Sabah to assure Sabahans that the peace, security and sovereignty of the war-torn state is the Malaysian government’s utmost priority.

3. A 'general' leading the Sulu intruders has been killed along with 31 others who were gunned down by Malaysian security forces since yesterday evening.

4. Former Philippines President has urged President Benigno Aquino III to meet with the self-proclaimed Sulu ‘Sultan’ Jamalul Kiram III to discuss how to end the standoff in Sabah.

5. The question of the whether Sabah was part of Malaysia should not have arisen at all as the matter was determined legally some 135 years ago.

6. The ceasefire request by the Sulu Sultanate received mixed reaction by Malaysians.

7. Malaysians were shocked and disgusted as police — for the first time — officially confirmed that the members of the security forces killed in a prolonged stand-off in the Kampung Sri Jaya Siminul in Semporna were badly mutilated.