Cross border attacks in Sabah

This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: Updates needed past September 5, 2019. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (November 2023)

Cross border attacks in Sabah
Part of the Piracy in the Sulu Sea, North Borneo dispute and Moro conflict
Attacks by Moro pirates and militants in Sabah from the 19th century to the present
Date 8 December 1962[17] – present (62 years, 6 months, 3 weeks and 2 days) Location Sabah, Malaysia Result Security in mainland Sabah was under control, cross border attacks ongoing; Operation Merdeka to invade Sabah under the instruction of insurgency in the Southern Philippines after Marcos soldiers execute a number of Moro fighters in an event known as Jabidah massacre . Nur Misuari deported to the Philippines in 2001 under the ASEAN friendship after Malaysian security forces found he had stayed illegally on an island in Sabah to escape from the Philippine authorities after a failed rebellion against the Philippine Government.[18][19] Establishment of RCI in 2012 when Sabah was infiltrated with huge numbers of illegal immigrants from the Philippines who escape from the war torn Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. Deportation of thousands of Filipino illegal immigrants in Sabah after they were found collaborating with militants during a brief of standoff with a self-proclaimed Filipino Sultan Jamalul Kiram III followers in 2013.[20][21] Establishment of ESSCOM and ESSZONE in 2013 to counter further Filipino militant infiltrations and to prevent the mass exodus of Filipino illegal immigrants into Sabah.[22][23] Sabah ceases its cross-border trade and barter trade in eastern waters from 7 April 2016–1 February 2017 due to persistent Abu Sayyaf attacks.[24][25][26] The governments of Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia have signed an agreement to jointly countering the persistent lawlessness in the Sulu Archipelago.[27][28]
Belligerents
Malaysia Sabah Philippines (after 1986–2016)[1] Indonesia[2] Vietnam[3] Singapore[4] Thailand[5] Supported by Australia (1963–66) (troops and material aid) New Zealand (1963–66) (troops and material aid) United Kingdom (until 1966) (troops and material aid) Brunei (material aid)[6][7][8][9][10] Bangsamoro militia support: Moro Islamic Liberation Front[11] Moro National Liberation Front (Mus Sema faction)[12][13]	Sulu Sultanate (Jamalul Kiram III faction) (2013–present) Former Sabah invasion supporter: Moro National Liberation Front (Misuari faction) (2001–2015)[14][15][16] Bangsamoro Republik (2013)
Commanders and leaders
Anwar Ibrahim (Prime Minister of Malaysia) Mohamed Khaled Nordin (Minister of Defence) Hajiji Noor (Chief Minister of Sabah) Prabowo Subianto (President of Indonesia) Murad Ebrahim[29] Mohagher Iqbal[11] Muslimin Sema[30] Former leader PM full list Tunku Abdul Rahman (1962–1970) # Abdul Razak Hussein (1970–1976) # # Mahathir Mohamad (1981–2003, 2018–2020) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (2003–2009) Najib Razak (2009–2018) Muhyiddin Yassin (2020–2021) Ismail Sabri Yaakob (2021-2022) CM full list Fuad Stephens  † # # Mohamed Said Keruak Harris Salleh Joseph Pairin Kitingan Sakaran Dandai Salleh Said Keruak Yong Teck Lee Bernard Giluk Dompok Osu Sukam Chong Kah Kiat Musa Aman Shafie Apdal PR full list #[31] #[32][33] Joseph Estrada[34] Gloria Macapagal Arroyo[32] #[1] PR full list Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono[35] Joko Widodo	#[39] Rodrigo Duterte Nur Misuari (2001–2015)[14][15][16][40][41]
Units involved
NSOF: Malaysian Armed Forces Royal Malaysia Police Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency British coalition (until 1966)  Royal Australian Navy[42]  Royal New Zealand Navy[43][44] British troops and navy Indonesian National Armed Forces Indonesian National Police after 1986–2016: Armed Forces of the Philippines Philippine National Police	Abu Sayyaf Moro Pirates Royal Security Forces of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo
Strength
Malaysian security forces: Malaysian Army 6,000+ troops[45] 18 ACV-300 Adnan IFV 12 DefTech AV8 AFV Some of AV4 Lipanbara MRAP Some of Condor APC Royal Malaysian Air Force A squadron of BAE Hawk 3 F/A-18D Hornet Some of Eurocopter EC725 Royal Malaysian Navy Some of ships from Eastern Fleet British coalition (until 1966) Australian forces HMAS Tobruk[42] HMAS Sydney (R17) New Zealand forces Patrol ships[43] British forces Thousands British troops Philippine security forces: uncertain Indonesian security forces: uncertain Law abiding Moro rebels: uncertain	Abu Sayyaf: unknown Kiram followers: 235[46] Moro Pirates: unknown
Casualties and losses
Malaysian security forces: ≈12+ deaths[47][48][49] and 13 wounded[48][50] recorded British coalition (until 1966) uncertain Philippine security forces: uncertain[note 1] Indonesian security forces: uncertain Law abiding Moro rebels: uncertain[note 2]	Abu Sayyaf: ~estimated 21+ killed[50][51][52][53][54][55] 3 wounded[50][56][57] +10 captured Kiram followers: 58 killed[48][58] 3 wounded[48] Moro Pirates: Hundreds killed[51]
Civilian casualties ~estimated 50+ killed[47][48][59][60][61][62] ~estimated 23 wounded[48][61]
~ The total thought to be higher than what has been shown.

Part of the Formation of Malaysia
Events
North Borneo Self-governance Proclamation of Malaysia Operation Claret 1964 race riots in Singapore MacDonald House bombing PAP–UMNO relations Proclamation of Singapore UN Security Council Resolution 213 Singapore Agreement South Thailand insurgency Double Six Tragedy Pedra Branca dispute 2019 failed constitutional amendment 2021 constitutional amendment
Malaysia portal
v t e

The cross border attacks in Sabah are a series of cross border

Prior to a large-scale military operation initiated by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to combat the rampant lawlessness in the southern Philippines since mid-2016, Malaysian security forces had been told to tighten its security and to ensure that terrorists do not attempt to flee prosecution by escaping to uninhabited areas.^[66][67][68] Sabahan leaders also ordered Malaysian security forces to "shoot on sight" any trespassers who continue to ignore laws despite repeated warnings^[69] and that those escaping militants be dealt with by the country's laws more effectively.^[70] Following the declaration of martial law in the neighbouring Philippines since 23 May 2017, Malaysian authorities increased their border security.^[71] Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal also urged the Malaysian security forces to stop taking a defensive attitude and be offensive towards the rampant crimes perpetrated by southern Filipino criminals and terrorists that has disturbed peace in the state.^[72]

Various countries and territories such as Australia,

Piracy has been a part of the Sultanate of Sulu's culture.^[60][88][89] During the expedition by the British ship HMS Dido in 1846, Captain Henry Keppel mentioned:

The most desperate and active pirates of the whole

Indian Archipelago are the tribes of the Sooloo group of islands lying close to the north shore of Borneo.^[17]

— Captain Henry Keppel

.

Besides that, the present economic disparity between Mindanao and Sabah became the main reason many of these illegal Moros snuck into Sabah with some of those "extremist" Moros with their own ideology still perceive the eastern part of Sabah as part of the Philippines, and these groups feel entitled to enter Sabah as it is their historical right although the Sultanate of Sulu have defunct since the last recognised Sultan, Jamalul Kiram II whose have no son to inherit his powers.^[105][106]

These negative views on Filipino immigrants however, ignores the scathing involvement of the Malaysian government in terrorist activities in southern Philippines, as several terrorists targeting Philippine cities were of Malaysian descent. Filipino Moros who fled from the war in the Philippines were merely fleeing the devastation of the Moro conflict a conflict which was tacitly supported by the Malaysian government,^[107] a political move to counter-act attempts for the Reconquest of Sabah by the Sultanate of Sulu which once exercised sovereignty over Sabah before Malaysia took over rule of the territory.

In 2014, the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) Security Coordinating Intelligence Officer Hassim Justin blamed corruption, illegal issuance of identity cards and local authorities who did not taking any action to combat the squatter colonies for contributing to the significant increase of illegal immigrants in Sabah.^[108] It was also reported that community leaders in the east coast such as village chief were involved in the granting of identity cards to new Filipino Moro immigrants as they have a connection with them through similar ethnic roots.^[109] According to a research by two Filipino researchers, Myfel Joseph Paluga and Andrea Malaya Ragragio of the Department of Social Science University of the Philippines Mindanao, the flood of migrants from Mindanao to Sabah was partly encouraged by certain Sabah politicians who wanted to be the Sultan of Sulu especially after the fall of Sabah Muslim-led parties of USNO and Sabah People's United Front (BERJAYA) administrations.^[110] Beside that, it was claimed by Indonesian workers who had become victims of irresponsible employers, the arrival of illegal immigrants from the Philippines are also caused by employers who abuse their powers especially in the agricultural sectors of palm oil plantation.^[111]

Part of a series on the
History of Malaysia
Prehistoric period Paleolithic  Lenggong Valley c. 2,000,0000 BCE  Mansuli Valley 235,000 BCE Mesolithic  Niah cultures 65,000–40,000 BCE Neolithic  Bewah man/woman 16,000 BCE  Perak man/woman 11,000–200 BCE  Neolithic Klang 500 – 200 BCE
Early kingdoms Ancient Kedah <100 BCE Chi Tu 100 BCE–642 CE Langkasuka 100 BCE–1474 CE Gangga Negara c. 100 CE–1025 Pan Pan 424–775 Old Kedah 170–1135 Old Pahang 449–1454 Srivijaya 700s–1025 Majapahit 1300s
Rise of Muslim states Pattani Sultanate 1516– 1902 Johor Sultanate 1528–present Sarawak Sultanate 1599–1641 Selangor Sultanate 1766–present Besut Kingdom 1780–1899 Setul Kingdom 1808–1916 Reman Kingdom 1810–1902 Kubang Pasu Kingdom 1839–1864
Colonial period Portuguese Malacca 1511–1641 Dutch–Portuguese War 1601–1661 Dutch Malacca 1641–1824 Pahang Kingdom 1770–1881 Straits Settlements 1786–1946 Siamese invasion of Kedah 1821–1826 Anglo-Dutch Treaty 1824 Burney Treaty 1826 Naning War 1831–1832 Kingdom of Sarawak 1841–1946 Separation of Perlis from Kedah 1843 Crown Colony of Labuan 1848–1946 Pahang Civil War 1857–1863 Larut Wars 1861–1874 Klang War 1867–1874 Pangkor Treaty 1874 Perak War 1875–1876 British Malaya / Borneo 1874–1946 Jementah Civil War 1879 North Borneo 1882–1946 Pahang Uprising 1891–1895 Mat Salleh Rebellion 1894–1905 Federated Malay States 1895–1946 Anglo-Siamese Treaty 1909 Unfederated Malay States 1909–1946 Battle of Penang 1914 Kelantan rebellion 1915
World War II Battle of Singapore 1942 Sook Ching 1942 Syburi 1942 Sandakan Death Marches 1942–1945 Si Rat Malai 1943–1945 Jesselton revolt 1943–1944
Formative period BMA of Malaya/Borneo 1945–1946 Crown Colony of N. Borneo/Sarawak 1946–1963 Anti-cession movement 1946–1963 Malayan Union 1946–1948 Federation of Malaya 1948–1963 Malayan Emergency 1948–1960 Baling Talks 1955
Independence period Singapore in Malaysia 1963–1965 ASEAN Declaration 1967 Second communist insurgency 1968–1989
Modern period Peace Agreement of Hat Yai 1989 Royal Immunity Amendments 1993 Asian financial crisis 1997–1998 Reformasi Movement 1998–2022 Federal Territory of Putrajaya 2001 2008 Malaysian Opposition Wave 2008 2009 Perak constitutional crisis 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic 2009–2010 Lahad Datu standoff 2013 Sedition Dragnet 2014 1MDB scandal 2015–present Pakatan Harapan takeover 2018 COVID-19 pandemic 2020–2022 Political crisis 2020–2022 Bornean Amendment 2021–2023 Green Wave 2022–present 2023 Sabah political crisis 2023
Incidents 2023 Elmina plane crash 2023 2024 Lumut helicopters crash 2024 2024 Ulu Tiram police station attack 2024 2025 Putra Heights pipeline fire 2025 2025 Gerik bus crash 2025
By topic Communications Constitutional Economic Immigration Legal Military
By region Kedah Kuala Lumpur Penang George Town Sabah Sarawak
Malaysia portal
v t e

The tactics are different, and are based on the motives of individual groups. Generally, the Moro pirate and militants will attack and escape to the Malaysia–Philippines border or any nearby islands when their activities are spotted by the security forces. Both the pirates and militants will usually steal boat engines, food and other useful things that can be sold.^[112] In certain cases, they also attack towns, killing innocent civilians and kidnapping them as shown in the Lahad Datu and Semporna attacks.^[51] The Filipino illegal immigrants play an important role in helping them by providing information on their next target.^[21] Due to the increase security patrol by the Malaysian Armed Forces, the militants group such as the Abu Sayyaf has changed their tactics by attacking and abducting foreign vessel crews. Many of those who fleeing from the Philippine military operation in the southern Philippines also sneaking into Sabah with new tactics by entering the state in a small group to avoid from being detected as suspicious by the Malaysian security forces, this was discovered following the tip-off from local villagers who saw many new suspicious people coming into their village from the sea shortly after the continuous military operation. Many of them are believed to be member of militants and kidnapping groups.^[113]

In 1962, seven Filipino Moros armed with machetes attacked the town of Kunak and robbed the businessmen there. The seven Filipino Moros attacked again in 1963, this time attacking the town of Semporna and killing a number of residents.^[59] In October 1979, a passenger boat on the way to Semporna from Lahad Datu with 48 passengers was attacked and forced to dock at Adal Island. Three passengers were shot dead, one woman was raped and the others was taken to the Philippines but were quickly rescued by the Philippine security forces. In 1980, a group of 6–8 Moros attacked an island near Semporna with M16 rifles, killing villagers while they were asleep. At the end, seven villagers were killed while 11 others were injured. In 1982, a groups of Moros ambushed a village in Timba-Timba Island, and started to shoot, rob and kill villagers. The incident in 1985, which is considered to be the most terrifying attack out of all of them, was where 21 people were killed and another 11 wounded. Five of the intruders were killed by the Malaysian maritime police while the others managed to escaped. At the end of the tragedy, one of the victim said;

I cannot help wondering about our government, which can't seem to defend us against these marauders.^[61]

In 1987, two Japanese managers were killed while others were wounded after twelve gunmen attack a factory in the

In January 2014, an attempted intrusion by foreign elements on Sabah was blocked by the Malaysian security forces.[120] On 2 April 2014, a Chinese tourist and a Filipino national were abducted off Singamata Adventures Reef and Resort, Semporna. Two months later, they were rescued by Malaysian and Philippine security forces. On 6 May 2014, another abduction involving a Chinese national occurred in Silam, near the Lahad Datu area in Sabah.^[119] He was later freed on 10 July.^[121] On 16 June, a fish breeder and a Filipino worker were kidnapped off Kunak.^[122][123] The fish farm manager was freed on 10 December with the help of two Filipino negotiators, one of them being the leader of the Moro National Liberation Front.^[122] On 12 July, a policeman was shot dead and another marine policeman was abducted at Mabul Water Bungalows Resort, Mabul island.^{[49][124][125]} The policeman was later freed on 7 March 2015, after 9 months in captivity.^[126] On 9 October, two Filipino illegal immigrants who were identified as Sulu militants were killed by police in Penampang, both suspects has a record of criminal activities and were responsible for at least three robberies in the area.^[58] On 17 October, two Vietnamese fishermen who were working for a Malaysian employer, were shot by Filipino pirates. All of them were later rescued by the Malaysian security forces and sent to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu.^[127][128]

On 15 May 2015, four armed men from the Abu Sayyaf-based group in Mindanao abducted two people in a resort in Sandakan and brought them to Parang, Sulu.^[129][130] One of them been released on 9 November, after six months in captivity,^[131] while another one was beheaded due to ransom demands was not met.^[132][133] The Malaysian authorities identified that a number of kidnappings in Sabah was perpetrated by a group of Filipino brothers known as "Muktadil brothers" who sell their hostages to Abu Sayyaf group. Of all the five Muktadil brothers: Mindas Muktadil was killed by Philippine police in Jolo in May 2015, Kadafi Muktadil was arrested in late 2015, Nixon Muktadil and Brown Muktadil was killed during an operation by the Philippine military on 27 September 2016 after they resist for arrest,^[134][135] while Badong Muktadil succumbed to his injuries during his run after being shot at the time his brothers was killed. His body was discovered in a pump boat in Mususiasi area in Siasi Island, close to Jolo.^[136]

On 1 April 2016, four Malaysians aboard a tugboat from Manila was kidnapped when they arrived near the shore of

On 10 September, three Filipino fishermen was kidnapped in the shores of Pom Pom Island in Sabah, Malaysia.[145]^[146] The three Indonesians fishermen that was kidnapped on 9 July from Sabah were released on 17 September.^[147] On 27 September, one local boat-skipper was kidnapped from his trawler by seven armed Filipino militant before attacking another Indonesian trawler but no kidnapping were committed in the second incident.^[148] The boat-skipper was released on 1 October with no ransom been asked,^[149] along with three Indonesians hostages that were released on the same day.^[150] On 12 October, four armed men in a pump boat attacking two fishermen on a boat off Tigabu Island near Kudat. One of the fisherman who is an Indonesian sustained gunshot wounds and has been treated in the Duchess of Kent Hospital in Sandakan.^[151][152] On 24 October, six unidentified gunmen who spoke Tagalog rob a Malaysian trawler in international waters near Jambongan Island off Kudat, the incident was only reported to local authorities on 27 October due to long distance with any army post.^[153] Another attempt for kidnapping was thwarted by the Malaysian security forces on 31 October near Berhala Island, thought the perpetrators managed to escape.^[154] Two Indonesians were abducted near the shore of Kuala Kinabatangan on 5 November by unidentified gunmen based in Tawi-Tawi island of the Philippines.^[155] On 6 November, a German woman tourist was shot to dead while her boyfriend been abducted by Abu Sayyaf militants from their yacht off Tanjong Luuk Pisuk in Sabah.^[156][157] The German man was later beheaded after failed to pay ransom for his release. On 20 November, two Indonesian fishermen was kidnapped by five Abu Sayyaf gunmen off Lahad Datu, Sabah, while Philippine military been informed to intercept the bandit.^[158] Responding for the co-operation with neighbouring countries, since late 2016 more than 100 Abu Sayyaf militants have been killed by Philippine authorities,^[159] with another 30 killed in early 2017.^[160]

On 8 March 2017, a Vietnamese merchant ship was escorted safely to Malaysian waters by the local authorities after the ship's captain reported that he spotted a strange boat with six people on board from the Philippine waters following their vessel.^[161] On 23 March, Philippine authorities rescued two Malaysian hostages during its continuous major pursuit to destroy the group.^[162] Another three more Malaysian hostages rescued on 26 March.^[163] Following the continuous security operation collaboration between the Philippine and Malaysian authorities, the attacks by Abu Sayyaf have seen a beginning of decrease since the month of April.^[164] The Malaysian side announced that they would begin to lead the major active joint sea patrols in the Sulu and Celebes Sea with the authorities in Philippines and Indonesia to eliminate all forms of piracy and to clear the sea areas from criminal and terrorist activities that have been ongoing for decades.^[165]

From 2000 to 2016, there has been records of 20 kidnappings cases perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf, with a total of 33 Malaysians and 31 foreigners have been kidnapped for ransom during the six years.^[166] Following the Philippine military major operations in the southern Philippines especially with the recent killings of many notable Abu Sayyaf leaders, the authorities there have foiled a big plan of the Abu Sayyaf to carry out large-scale kidnappings of foreigners from tourist island resorts in East Malaysia and the central Philippines.^[167] On 11 September 2018, two Indonesian fishermen working off eastern Sabah shores are kidnapped by Filipino bandits, making it as another first kidnapping incident in almost two years.^[168] On 10 June 2019, another ten sea gypsies were kidnapped by southern Filipino bandits from the waters in Lahad Datu.^[169] Nine of them were later released without harm on 22 June in the same month.^[170] On 4 September, two armed Filipino men were killed after they suddenly opened fire to Malaysian patrolling authorities who out to check two foreign boats acting suspiciously in Malaysian waters during night.^[171] In the ensuing shoot-out, the other boat also unheeded the warnings and escaped in darkness towards the direction of the southern Philippines.^[172][173] The increasing vigilance comes after the warning from Indonesian consulate in Sabah that there have been attempts by the Abu Sayyaf to carrying out raids for ransom in the east coast.^[174]

During the British colonial era, the British suffered a high number of attacks, leading to the deployment of Henry Keppel and James Brooke in 1846 to search for pirate nests in North Borneo.^[17] After a long journey of battling with the pirates, the last pirate's nest in Tunku, Lahad Datu was destroyed by the British.^[175]

The latest intrusion in 2013 caused the Malaysian government to establish the

Despite various initiatives and assets been provided by government, the cross border crimes in eastern Sabah are keep increasing as the kidnap-for-ransom groups had strong intelligence as they had a relatives and family living in Sabah.

Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia has agreed to jointly patrol their sea to thwart any threats from the Filipino militants.[197] The three countries also have signed another agreement on joint air patrols.^[198] On 2 March 2015, a Filipino worker was arrested following the murder of the former Sabah Chief Minister nephew over salary dispute.^[199] On 22 February 2016, four Filipino refugee were arrested following the discovery of a Colt. 45 and 39 bullets in their Isuzu D-Max vehicle at a refugee settlement scheme in Telipok.^[200] On 23 September, an undocumented Filipino migrant was arrested together with his daughter after they were found with M16 bullets and magazines at a premises in Sandakan.^[201] On 7 October, Malaysian authorities arrest 10 suspects comprising residents of Sabah and individuals from the southern Philippines on suspicion of collaborating with militant groups.^[202] On 8 December, three armed Filipino kidnappers who are believed to be members of Abu Sayyaf was shot dead by Malaysian security forces while another two arrested while the gunmen trying to kidnap a fisherman off Lahad Datu.^[50][203] Two other gunmen however managed to escape with one hostage but goes missing after the shootout.^[57] Philippine authorities have confirmed all of the gunmen are Abu Sayyaf members and one of the gunmen killed is one of Abu Sayyaf notorious leader that were previously involved in several other kidnappings involving foreign nationals.^[204] On 12 December, two armed gunmen was killed during a shootout with police in Kunak.^[205] Both suspects are armed with homemade shotguns, an airgun, a Colt .45 pistol, a .38 revolver, a knife and parang, several M16 bullets (a version which different from that being used by the Malaysian security forces), other bullets and cartridges as well drug packets but no documentation found in their bodies.^[206] Both suspects are believed to be drug dealers and involved in several robbery around the east coast area.^{[207][208][209]} On 29 December, a 42-year-old local man was slashed to death while his wife and their three children were seriously hurt after being attacked by a Filipino man in Kudat.^[210]

On 7 January 2017, a paperless Filipino who just served his sentence for 13 criminal offences in Sabah prison in October 2016 was shot and re-arrested by local police after he resisting from arrest and tried to injuring one of the policemen when he was caught return to his criminal activities.

On 2 May, an unemployed Filipino man was arrested after trying to assault a security guard after being warned not to trespass a construction site. The suspect was managed to be put down by the guard during the ensuing scuffle when he began to brandishing a knife; and giving a threat to find the guard soon after his sentence is ended. The suspect also remanded for coming to the state without any valid travel documents.[220] On 10 May, a local woman was held hostage by a Filipino man high on drugs after the suspect failed to robbed a house which he was then picking a local bystander and pointing his knife towards the woman by threatening to slit her throat.^{[221][222][223]} Following the implementation of strict requirements by Philippine authorities in the southern Philippines for Filipinos who tried to leaving their country to come to Sabah, there is a positive beginning drop on the numbers of Filipinos who plan to heading to the state without complete travel documents. This was enforced following the revelation from the previously arrested Filipino man who tried to robbed a house and taking a local bystander as a hostage in the state capital as he had no money to be used to return to his country.^[224] On 29 September, a Filipino man who are previously involved in several robberies and kidnapping plot was shot dead after resisting arrest by opening fire towards police.^[54] On 13 November, a previously deported Filipino illegal immigrant who had returned to Sabah to commit armed robbery was arrested after robbing a convenience store in Tawau.^[225] On 4 December, another Filipino man linked to the Abu Sayyaf was shot dead in the waters near Silam in Lahad Datu after resisting arrest by firing security forces.^[55]

On 13 February 2018, a Filipino criminal who has been involved in 17 housebreaking cases were shot dead by police after he resisting arrest by releasing several gunshots to police members during ensuing chase in Kayu Madang Road, Telipok.^[226] On 22 February, Sabah fishermen who was fishing in the waters off Kinabatangan was shot by gunmen who are believed to be originated from the neighbouring islands of the Philippines.^[227] On 27 February, three heavily armed men was shot dead by police in Tawau after opening fire when the suspects realised they were being tailed.^[228] On 8 May, four gunmen were shot dead by Sabah authorities off the coast of Lahad Datu after attacking patrolling authorities.^[229] Another two gunmen were shot dead on 20 September.^[230] On 24 December, through raids into various Filipino refugee settlement in both Sabah and Labuan, the authorities seized many dangerous weapons including drugs possessed by many of the Filipino illegal immigrants where they were detained through the operations.^[231] On 28 December, an armed illegal immigrant man with identity documents from the Philippines were shot dead in Kampung Jawa, Lahad Datu after aiming his gun to patrolling police members who out to check him in a house following a tip-off from the public.^[232]

On 13 January 2019, another case of random passerby hostage taking involving a 2-year-old children occurred in Telipok where the suspect been shot dead after 5 hours negotiation with police to release the victim.

A Malaysian lecturer, B. A. Hamzah of the Department of Strategic Studies, National Defence University, Kuala Lumpur said "the root causes for maritime violence must be understood and addressed" with the people in the Sulu Archipelago should be granted for a self-rule by the Philippine government. Adding that the kidnappings was happened as a result of spillover of armed conflicts in the southern Philippines. He said there must be co-operation between the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia to enforce law and order at the Sulu Sea as the area are historically known for their lawlessness, where the Muslim islanders living in the archipelago becoming bandits, kidnappers, extortionists, and gun runners as their main primary businesses as the areas are very impoverished.^[253]

Neighbouring Vietnam have begun to install radar in their ships for piracy warning and launched maritime exercise.^[3] Both Singapore and Thailand have also been invited to assist in the Sulu Sea patrols together with Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.^[4][5]

This article contains too many or overly lengthy quotations. Please help summarise the quotations. Consider transferring direct quotations to Wikiquote or excerpts to Wikisource. (November 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

The former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, has suggested the government of Sabah to demolish all the water villages in eastern Sabah and resettle only the local people there as the era of the water villages has passed and the lifestyle of the villagers there who live in the sea is not appropriate for the modern way of life in Malaysia as the nation aims for Vision 2020.^[254] A Sabah MP, Rosnah Shirlin has called for the closure of the Filipino refugee camp in Kinarut, saying it is a threat to security in Papar. She says:

The refugee camp has creating a lot of problems for the residents of the district. The camp has become a drugs den and the source of many other criminal activities. Over the years, many robberies had taken place in nearby villages and the culprits are mostly from the camp. Supposedly, the improved situation in the Philippines today has brought into question whether these Filipinos could still be regarded as refugees. The camp was set up on a 40-acre plot of land near Kampung Laut in the early 1980s by the

United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). But the UNHCR had long ago stopped providing funds to the camp and as a result, many of these foreigners had been working outside the camp.^[255] The refugees had dared to expand the camp area, encroaching on nearby village land and today, the camp has become the biggest syabu distribution den in Papar.^[256][257]

— Rosnah Shirlin

, Sabah Papar's MP.