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KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was visibly sad today while watching the pantomime of the bloody intrusion, which happened in Kg Tanduo, Lahad Datu Sabah 10 years ago.
Anwar could be seen wiping away tears during the 30-minute performance held during the 216th Police Day parade at the police training centre (Pulapol) here, to commemorate those who died in the 2013 Kg Tanduo tragedy.
The pantomime choreographed by Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Seri Hazani Ghazali was performed by 86 officers and policemen from 69 Commando (VAT 69), the air operations team, the general operations team and the PDRM Museum.
Four family members of an officer and a policeman who died in the tragedy, namely Zulkifli Mamat and Sabaruddin Daud also took part in the performance.
The atmosphere around Pulapol became increasingly sombre as many were tearful when the victims’ next-of-kin appeared at the end of the performance held to honour the officers and policemen who died in the incident.
The pantomime revolves around the bloody battle in Kg Tanduo, which has become a black spot in the history of Malaysia.
In February 2013, the nation was rocked by news of intrusion by Sulu armed terrorists who had entered Malaysian waters in stages at Felda Sahabat, Lahad Datu.
On March 1, 2013, a shootout occurred in Kg Tanduo, in which 10 Malaysian security personnel and 68 Sulu terrorists were killed. The conflict was declared over on April 10, 2013.
Earlier, Anwar and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail arrived at the ceremony at 8.40am.
The Police Day celebration this year is the first to be graced by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah. – Bernama, March 20, 2023
