KOTA KINABALU: The alleged meeting to plot an invasion into Sabah by Sulu militia was actually a meeting on security matters in the southern Philippines, says Bukit Aman.

       “We have verified that a meeting with officials from that region was held, but it was more towards discussions about their security issues, so the information is false,” said Internal Security and Public Order Department director Comm Datuk Hazani Ghazali.

       Comm Hazani said this during a press conference after witnessing the handing over of duties from outgoing Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) commander Datuk Ahmad Fuad Othman to Deputy Comm Hamzah Ahmad on Friday (Dec 10).

       He said the meeting attended by, among others, their government officials was also to brainstorm ideas to bring in investors to the Philippines.

       Comm Hazani also said such claims would not create panic among Sabahans as security forces, including the police and armed forces, were always ready to face threats.

       On Dec 9, the South China Morning Post reported that there was a secret meeting among 19 mayors in Sulu to discuss the recruitment of 600 armed militia as plans to set up the “Royal Sulu Army” to invade Sabah.

       The meeting was allegedly held with a senior political figure in Sulu, who ordered each mayor to carry out the recruitment.

       The report, which quoted a regional security official, also said there were spies sent to check on coastal towns although none had been infiltrated yet.

       In 2013, more than 200 armed Sulu militants intruded Sabah via Lahad Datu in a bid to claim the state as their territory which resulted in a month-long standoff with security forces.