Kg Tanduo firefight between ‘equally strong opponents’
IPOH: Oil palm trees are good substitute covers against bullets. Such was the information shared by a 69 Commando (VAT 69) officer who was involved in the battle against a group of armed intruders in Lahad Datu, Sabah in 2013.
VAT 69 General Policing Staff Officer Supt Hakemal Hawari said the battle area in Kampung Tanduo was in an oil palm plantation and there was no place for the security forces personnel to seek cover.
“The oil palm trees were good cover and defence substitute at that time because there was no hill or big trees to shelter from firearm shots. It’s a new location for battle,” he told a media conference at the Special Operations Command, Ulu Kinta here yesterday.
Hakemal, who headed the recce team Alpha Sector, said as soon as they arrived in the area on Feb 15, 2013, they found the situation they faced was not a small operation.
“We suggested to our higherups to boost our numbers from Ulu Kinta (69 Commando) to strengthen the operation. There were 60 personnel under me at that time,” he said.
Meanwhile, VAT 69 deputy commander ACP Abdul Rani Alias regarded the battle with the intruders who were strong supporters of the Sulu Sultanate, Azzimudie Kiram as confronting an equally strong opponent.
Heading the Delta Sector in Kampung Tanduo, he conceded that the group of intruders were not only trained but were also armed.
“They (intruders) were ready to die, well-trained but we (VAT 69) too were well-trained and this is akin to facing an equally strong opponent.
“The situation at that time was very different, with bullets criss-crossing. After the end of the communist threat (1989) there was never yet a war operation, most often were criminals,” he said.
Narrating further, Abdul Rani said the Delta team he headed with three other teams, namely Alpha, Bravo and Charlie Sectors were were directed to survey the area involved up close on Feb 28, 2013.
“On March 1, at about 6 am, my team cleared about 20 houses and during a resting situation at 9.45 am, the sounds of battles were heard in Bravo and Charlie’s sectors,’’ he said.
Upon arrival, he said they found 69 Commando members ASP Zulkifli Mamat and Sergeant Sabaruddin Daud from the Charlie and Bravo sectors had been shot and killed.
Asked about his feelings at that time, Abdul Rani said undeniably he and the other personnel were angry and sad at the losses of their team members but at the same time their determination to get rid of all the intruders rose.
In the meantime, Abdul Rani said 69 Commando would be holding a ceremony in memory of the Tanduo tragedy known as the 1313 Ceremony on March 1 here and it was also part of the event content of the 50th year 69 Commando celebration.
Among the 1313 Ceremony event content, which was being held for the first time, included the handing over of an Op Sulu/ Op Daulat memorial stone by the Malaysian Institute of Integrity to 69 Commando other than delivering contributions to the children of the personnel killed.
Other than Zulkifli and Sabaruddin, the battle with the armed intruders in Kampung Tanduo and Kampung Simunul, Semporna killed seven members of the security forces, namely, ACP Ibrahim Lebar, ASP Michael Padel, Sergeant Abdul Azis Sarikon, Lance Corporal Mohd Azrul Tukiran, Sergeant Detective Baharin Hamit, Corporal Salam Tugiran dan Private Ahmad Hurairah Ismail.