Nine villages used as gun battle locations and hideouts by the militants from the southern Philippines during the intrusion into Sabah have been thoroughly searched, mopped up and declared free of terrorist threats.

NONESabah police commissioner Hamza Taib said residents from eight villages had also been allowed to return home, except those from Kampung Tanduo, which has been permanently closed.

"Villagers from Kampung Sungai Nyamuk, Tanjung Batu, Tanjung Labian and Tanagian, who were evacuated to relief centres, have been allowed to return home.

"In fact, the whole areas of Sungai Bilis, Lok Sembuang and Lok Buani have also been searched and mopped up. It can be announced that the whole areas involved in Ops Daulat are clean and that the people have been allowed to return to their respective houses," Hamza told reporters at the Felda Sahabat 16 operation base near Lahad Datu today.

Hamza said three out of four multipurpose halls in Felda Sahabat used as relief centres, namely Fajar Harapan, Cenderawasih and Gemala Pura, had been closed, while the other one, Embara Budi, remained open.

Ops Daulat operation will continue

However, Ops Daulat, the operation to flush out the militants, would be continued as the main objective was to ensure total safety and security in the whole areas of Lahad Datu, Semporna and Sandakan.

In another development, Hamza said eight other individuals arrested under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) 2012 were charged at the Lahad Datu police headquarters, which was turned into a temporary court.

"So far, 16 people arrested under Sosma have been charged," he said.

On the Philippine media reports that 100 militants had entered Sabah waters to help their brethren, Hamza said: "They can say anything, but like I said before, the security situation in Sabah is under control."

Hamza also said the security forces had all the expertise to tackle the terrorists' tactics, especially the possibility that they would pose as local residents.

- Bernama