Sulu sultanate seeking additional support from Mindanao, MNLF

MANILA, Philippines -  The sultanate of Sulu is now mobilizing support in Sulu and the Zamboanga Peninsula for its forces in Sabah which are still engaged in a standoff with Malaysian security forces.

According to the sultanate's spokesperson, Abraham Idjirani, they are also tapping the support of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

Idjirani said  on June 23, the Sultanate of Sulu will be meeting with commanders of the MNLF in Sulu, Palawan and the Zamboanga Peninsula in Zamboanga City. The meeting will be facilitated by Hajib Mujaha Hashim, chairman of the MNLF’s Islamic Command Council.

Idjirani said a certain Commander Najer, one of the commanders of the sultanate's Royal Security Force (RSF),  called him up Tuesday and reported that the 161 remaining RSF fighters led by Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram are now running low on ammunition and food.

Idjirani said that at the moment, the RSF fighters are still on ceasefire mode following the call of the United Nations for sobreity.

According to Idjirani, the Malaysian forces are also not making any moves against the RSF. Abe said the 161 RSF fighters augmented by 1,000 volunteer fighters from the MNLF are still camped in the outskirts of Lahad Datu.

"The Malaysians are also not moving...We told (our troops) that they would be reprimanded if they will do so (attack the Malaysians). We have not lifted the ceasfire. We are adhering  to the call of the United Nations for sobreity and are still waiting for the Malaysians to sit down with us and talk," he said.

According to Idjirani,  Sultanate of Sulu is prepared to talk with the Malaysians based on the call of the UN. The RSF entered Sabah last March 1.

"The Sultanate of Sulu is ready to talk with the Malaysians based on the call of the UN. We are assuring the Filipino people that we are not initiating any moves against the Malaysian forces," he said.

Earlier, the Sultanate of Sulu said the RSF forces have broken up into smaller guerrilla groups in Kampung Tanduo and Tanjung Batu to evade  Malaysian security forces in Tawau which is Sabah’s third largest town after Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan.

“They have observed that it is easy to enter Lahad Datu from Tawau that is why they are beefing-up their position there,” said Idjirani.