The bodies of the two police commandos killed in a shootout by armed intruders claiming to be from the so-called Sulu Sultanate in the Philippines were flown to Peninsular Malaysia today.      

police killed iin sabah lahad datu incident 020313 zulkifli mamatA Charlie transport aircraft carrying the remains of inspector Zulkifli Mamat (left), 29, and corporal Sabarudin Daud, 46, both from the Hulu Kinta Camp of the general operations force, took off at 7.55am from the Tawau airport for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) airbase in Subang.

Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, were among those at the Subang airport when the bodies arrived.

Najib also announced the posthumous promotion of the two police commandos. He said Insp Zulkifli was promoted to ASP and Sabarudin to sergeant.   

RMAF public relations officer major Kamarulzaman Ali told Bernama Zulkifli's body would be flown to the RMAF airbase in Gong Kedak, Kelantan, for burial in his village of Kampung Kubang Ikan, Besut, Terengganu.      

Zulkifli's widow, Noraziah Noor, and their two sons would accompany the body on the flight from Subang, he added.     

police killed iin sabah lahad datu incident 020313 sabaruddin daubSabarudin's (right) remains will be buried in his village in Sungai Lias, Sungai Besar, Sabak Bernam, Selangor. He leaves behind wife Nurunisa Abu Bakar and three children - two sons and a daughter.

The funeral prayers for the two dead commandos were held at the Battalion 17 mosque of the general operations force in Lahad Datu late last night.

Three other commandos - corporal Mohd Tarmizi Hashim, 32, corporal Azman Ampong, 39, and constable Mohamad Qaiyum'aiqal Zolkifli, 22 - were injured in the shootout which occurred yesterday after the intruders had been holed up in Kampung Tanduo, 130km from Lahad Datu, since Feb 9.

Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman today visited the two injured police commandos.

police killed iin sabah lahad datu incident 020313 najib and rosmahHe arrived at the hospital at 11.15 am and spent about 30 minutes with the commandos.      
Accompanying Musa on the visit were deputy chief minister Yahya Hussin, Lahad Datu assemblyman Nasrun Datu Mansor, Silam member of parliament Salleh Kalbi and Kota Belud MP Abdul Rahman Dahlan. 

Family upset over inaccurate reports

Meanwhile the family of one of three injured policemen involved in a gunbattle with a group of armed intruders in Kampung Tanduo today, has expressed regret over an incorrect media report that the said policeman had died.     

Madun Buyung, 57, of Kampung Tabanak, Lahad Datu, believed to be related to corporal Azman Ampong who was earlier reported by the media to have been killed in the shootout, urged the media to be more careful before broadcasting their news.     

police killed iin sabah lahad datu incident 020313 03"Please ensure the information you obtain is correct. Get verification from the doctor first before publicising the news," he told reporters when met at the Lahad Datu Hospital, Lahad Datu.     

He was commenting on an electronic media report that Azman, who was assigned to Lahad Datu from Ulu Kinta, Perak was killed in the gunbattle when in reality, the policeman was merely injured on the hand and leg.      

Azman is one of two injured police personnel receiving treatment at the hospital in Lahad Datu, while the other has sought treatment in Sandakan.     

According to Madun, the incorrect news report had caused anxiety to the family members but they are grateful that Azman is safe.

- Bernama