Two Agusta Westland AW109 multi-purpose army helicopters have been brought to the Felda Sahabat 16 plantation near Lahad Datu in Sabah, Malaysia as part of the move to beef up the military assets used in the “Ops Daulat” offensive against Sulu terrorists. The twin-engine eight-seat reconnaissance and transport aircraft will add to the might of the security forces in flushing out the terrorists who had intruded into Sabah on Feb 12.
The arrival of the helicopters follows the announcement by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin yesterday that military assets and personnel would be beefed up for the “Ops Daulat” operation, particularly in Kampung Tanjung Batu and Sungai Nyamuk. Zulkifeli had said that this measure was aimed at shutting off the enemy’s route of intrusion into the country, both via land and sea. Besides the helicopters, 12 Adnan armoured combat vehicles and fighter aircraft of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) are also expected to arrive in stages.
Since March 1, security forces have killed 56 Sulu terrorists while eight policemen and two soldiers paid with their lives in the process.