Hamza fixing a life jacket on a boat passenger during launched of Ops Selamat at Jesselton Point on Tuesday.
KOTA KINABALU: Police have opened an investigation paper over a letter purportedly from Sulu militants stating that they will come to Tambunan for a revenge attack.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said police are in the process of recording evidence, identifying the source of the letter as well as tracking the individuals involved.
Hamza said police did not rule out the possibility of the letter having nothing to do with the Sulu terrorist attack in Lahad Datu early this March, based on the written language used.
He said they believed it might have been done by certain individual for specific interest.
“The case is currently being investigated under Section 505 of the Penal Code and right now, we are in the process of recording evidence to determine the origin source of the letter,” he said at a press conference after officiating Ops Selamat at Jesselton Point, here on Tuesday.
Present at the event were State Deputy Commissioner of Police SAC II Datuk Tan Kok Liang, city police chief ACP Jauteh Dikun and senior police officers.
According to Hamza, if there is enough evidence obtained from their investigation, police would immediately hand the case to the deputy public prosecutor for further action.
“At the moment, the case is still under investigation and I am convince that the letter have nothing to do with the Sulu terrorists,” he added.
It was reported that a letter, believed dated July 3, was signed by ‘Militant Commandos’ on behalf of the Sulu Sultanate and Kiram family was sent to the Tambunan district officer, police officers and the people of Tambunan warning that they aimed to start war in the district of Tambunan in retaliation for the clash in Kampong Tanduo, Lahad Datu by August.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Malaysian Armed Forces General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin had also responded that the security forces were in placed to head off any threats, while also checking on all reports and rumours.
Meanwhile, in commenting further of the rumours of the letter, Hamza said police believed it has nothing to do with any national security threat but mealy a psychological warfare to intimidate the people of Sabah.
Hamza also said police believed part of the motive of the rumour was to interfere with the on-going trial of 30 people under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) for waging war against the Yang di-Petuan Agong.
“They (the perpetrators) are also trying to scare the people of Sabah by saying that Abgimudin Kiram is hiding somewhere in the West Coast but base on police intelligence, he (Abgimudin) is somewhere in a neighboring country,” he said.