Mainstream media reports have linked the intrusion in Lahad Datu with the opposition, in particular PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, citing the Philippine media.

Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia today carried the report, drawn from a pro-government blog MPP Online (Media Permatang Pauh) quoting Philippine media Inquirer News.

NONE“A Philippine news portal Inquirer News has exposed that a top opposition leader in Sabah who is close to (opposition leader) Anwar had met with the insurgents offering his support for the group presently in Sabah.

“Inquirer News citing Philippine intelligence sources was reported saying the meeting took place last November, causing the Sulu sultan Jamalul Kiram III to order his followers to infiltrate Kampung Tanduo to stage the Sabah claim from within Malaysia,” reported the daily.

Bernama today also cited an unnamed report quoting a Philippine army personnel, “who is a loyal follower of Sulu raja muda Azzimuddie Kiram, as saying the group has come at the invitation of a ‘Malaysian opposition’ to discuss land issues in Sabah”.

Meanwhile the same Utusan article also cited Reuters apparently quoting a Philippine army personnel saying the intruders had come on the invitation of the opposition.

It went on to cite The Manila Times purportedly claiming that “the incursion is linked with the promise by the opposition in Malaysia to give autonomy to Sabah if it succeeds in forming the next government”.

Meanwhile in another report Malay supremacist group Perkasa’s chief Ibrahim Ali was quoted saying he believed the incursion was carefully planned and manipulated by “certain quarters”.

However he refused to name the parties, and “did not rule out the possibility that the parties involved are those who are disappointed with the political situation and are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their political aims”, words often used by the ruling party and its associates against opposition leaders.

When asked to comment, Anwar's aide Najwan Halimi told Malaysiakini the PKR de facto leader will respond to the report  tomorrow.

"Anwar has instructed his lawyers to look into the matter, and they will issue a statement to the media tomorrow," said Najwan.

The actual report

The Philippine Daily Inquirer yesterday ran an article that speculated that three groups “appear to have taken advantage of the decision of the Kirams to pursue their Sabah claim”.

NONEIt quoted a source saying, “These are groups that wanted to ride on the Kirams’ pursuit with their own interests in mind.”

The writer Nikko Dizon said his sources are from diplomatic and defence establishments who had wanted to remain anonymous.

The three groups named are a “small faction that is in it for the money, an anti-Aquino administration group, and the Malaysian political opposition”.

Of the third group, it was explained that it was alleged to be the work of the Sabah opposition politician.

“The intelligence officer said that one member of the Malaysian political opposition allied with Anwar Ibrahim was running for a post in Sabah,” read the article.

“‘Apparently, this politician was one of those who spoke with the Kirams. He supposedly gave the opposition’s support to the Kirams’ claim to Sabah,’” the daily reported the source saying.

There was no other mention of the opposition or Anwar in the story, which on the whole was an analysis on the various possible reasons for the present situation.

The paragraph on the November meeting was also unclear who the Kirams actually met with to discuss the matter.

"The source also believed that in their meeting in November last year, the Kirams decided to 'reclaim Sabah or at least ask for a compensation for Sabah that is commensurate to the land’s value today, and for the royal family to be given due recognition by Malaysia',” read the report.

The writer also speculated that there were 800,000 Filipinos in Sabah, and that the Malaysian government would likely wish to avoid conflict with the community.

"They are all Muslims and they know that if there is violence, it would go on forever," said the writer.