LAHAD DATU, March 20 – The bodies of 28 Sulu terrorists kept at the Lahad Datu and Tawau hospitals will be buried as a temporary measure pending any claim by next-of-kin, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said today.
This was to prevent any health risk and also due to the lack of room at the mortuaries at the two hospitals, he told a news conference also attended by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin at the Felda Sahabat 16 operations command near here.
Khalid said the decision on the “temporary burial” was made on Monday at a meeting attended by representatives from the Home Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Prime Minister’s Department, Attorney-General’s Chambers, Royal Malaysia Police and Interpol. However, he did not say where the bodies would be buried. Khalid said anyone from the country or abroad who wanted to claim the bodies would have to produce their DNA sample for matching purposes before the bodies were allowed to be taken away.
“People from abroad who want to claim the bodies can register their intention with the Foreign Ministry while those in the country can go to the police,” he said.
Khalid said some of the 108 people detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 would be charged today at the Lahad Datu district police headquarters which, for security purposes, would serve as a magistrate’s court.
Zulkifeli, meanwhile, said the “Ops Daulat” operation was still going on and a mopping-up exercise was in progress in the Tanjung Batu area.
He said the security forces would require several more days for the search and mopping-up exercise to ensure that it was safe for the villagers to return to their homes.
“More time is needed because of the nature of the terrain, with swampy land, and the vegetation which includes oil palm and mangrove forests.
“We will search every nook and corner to make sure that the enemy is not hiding anywhere before allowing the residents to return to their homes,” he said.
Zulkifeli said the security forces in Tanjung Batu found the body of a terrorist believed to have been shot dead on March 6. Since the intrusion into Lahad Datu on Feb 12, eight policemen and a soldier have been shot dead by the terrorists who suffered 62 dead. One soldier was killed in a road accident.
The security forces have detained 265 people for having entered the prohibited red zone of the “Ops Daulat” offensive and for other offences as well.
BERNAMA
