More Fighting Reported In Borneo Between Malaysian Forces And Armed Filipinos

Fresh Fighting Reported In Sabah Standoff Site -- GMA News

Four days after a bloody clash in Sabah that left at least 12 Filipinos and two Malaysian police dead, fresh fighting was reported in the Lahad Datu area early Tuesday.

A report on Malaysia's The Star Online said "gunshots were heard" and "fighter jets" were seen circling the Felda Sahabat area.

"Gunshots were heard and fighter jets were seen circling around the Felda Sahabat area. Four (explosions) were also heard in Kampung Tanduo," the report said.

The reported resumption of hostilities came a day after Malaysian forces started bringing in heavy weapons to the site of the three-week standoff.


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More News On The Malaysian Army Launching A New Attack On An Armed Philippine Groups In Sabah

Malaysia: At Least 26 Dead in Ongoing Sabah Siege -- Time/AP
Malaysia sends army reinforcements to Borneo after 8 police killed in clashes with Filipinos -- Washington Post/AP
Malaysian Army Launches Attack On Armed Philippine Group In Sabah -- Reuters
Borneo violence spirals into crisis for Malaysia, Philippines -- Reuters
‘Sultan of Sulu’ invasion of Borneo creates problems in Malaysia, Philippines -- Washington Post
Philippines urges tolerance as Malaysia rushes troops to Sabah -- Reuters
Aquino Sends Envoy to Malaysia as Sabah Death Toll Reaches 31 -- Bloomberg Businessweek

Violence Spreads In Borneo

Violence Spreads In Borneo As Five Malaysian Police Killed -- Reuters

Gunmen have killed five policemen in Malaysia's Sabah state where members of an armed faction from the Philippines are staking an ancient claim to the remote corner of Borneo island and have been facing off with security forces.

The violence could reignite tension between the Philippines and Malaysia, threaten growing economic interests in the resource-rich region and even lead to a delay in a Malaysian general election.

The shootings late on Saturday followed the killings on Friday of two policemen and 12 members of the faction, who are followers of the sultan of Sulu, a south Philippine region, who occupied a Sabah village in February to press their claim.

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More News On The Conflict between Malaysian Security Forces And An Armed Faction From The Philippines

Malaysian police killed amid Sabah siege -- Malaysia
Malaysia police die in fresh Sabah gun battle -- BBC
6 police, 3 assailants killed amid Malaysian siege -- AP
Seven killed in fresh clashes in Malaysian Borneo -- Global Post
Tensions Escalating on Borneo as Malaysia Doubles Military Forces -- New York Times
Sabah situation takes turn for the worse -- Gulf News

Malaysian Territorial Standoff With Filipino Followers Of A Muslim Clan Leader Turns Violent

Malaysian Territorial Standoff Turns Bloody -- Wall Street Journal

MANILA—A standoff turned bloody Friday between Malaysian security forces and Filipino followers of a Muslim clan leader claiming the Malaysian state of Sabah as part of the old Sultanate of Sulu. Twelve Filipinos were killed as well as two Malaysian police officers.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said the Filipino group shouldn't test his resolve to protect the sovereignty of his country.

Sabah Police Chief Hamza Taib said the fighting wasn't over in the village of Lahad Datu, where armed Filipino invaders landed about three weeks ago.

"We have tightened the cordon. There are about 80 to 100 armed people holed up. We want to end this as soon as possible," he said.

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More News On The Military Clash Between Malaysian Security Forces And Philippine Muslims

Sabah stand-off 'turns deadly' as clashes break out -- BBC
Philippine Muslims End Malaysia Standoff After Shootout -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Malaysian Incursion by Armed Filipinos Ends in Deadly Clash -- New York Times
Filipino clan says Malaysian police shot at them -- AP
14 killed in Malaysia-Philippine standoff -- AFP
Sabah assault: 15 dead -- Philippine Star
14 killed in clash at Malaysia-Philippine standoff -- Global Post
Malaysia raids Sabah village to end deadlock -- Al Jazeera

SU-30MKM Fly Over American USS George Washington (CVN-73) Aircraft Carrier

Two Su-30MKM fighter jets of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and two F/A-18E/F Super Hornets flew over the USS George Washington (CVN-73)  nuclear-powered supercarrier which sailed to Malaysia for a five-day goodwill visit.

Royal Malaysian Navy's Agosta 70 class Ouessant (S623) Submarine (SSK)

Decommissioned Agosta 70 class diesel attack submarine (SSK), the SMD Ouessant of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), in Melaka, Malaysia.

The Ouessant (S623)  diesel attack submarine (SSK) was commissioned by the French Navy in 1979 and transferred to the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) to act as a training sub for the planned acquisition of three French-built Scorpène-class submarines.

The Ouessant (S623)  diesel attack submarine (SSK)  will now be a part of the Melaka's Submarine Museum.

Malaysian Air Force MiG-29N Fighter Jet

Malaysian Air Force MiG-29N fighters in flight at the Singapore's air show. Malaysian is closest neighbor of the Singapore and it sent 4 MiG-29N fighters to participate in the air show.

Malaysia Takes Delivery Of 4th MRTP-16 Fast Intervention Boat

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has taken the delivery of the 4th  MRTP-16 fast intervention boat, a total of 10 such boats were ordered under a deal worth $100 million. Turkey has already delivered first thee  MRTP-16 fast intervention boats earlier this year.

The first two MRTP-16 fast intervention boats were produced by the Turkish shipyard, Yonca Onuk while rest are being produced by the Malaysian Bousted shipyard under transfer of technology from the Yonca Onuk. 

The DG MMEA, Datuk Mohd Amdan Kurish has said,  “The remaining six are expected to be delivered in June next year. Of the six, two will be built in Turkey and four here.”

The MRTP-16 fast intervention boats are designed to be used for fast response requirements for the anti-piracy operations. It has maximum speed of pp to 60 knots, range of over 300 nautical miles and endurance of two days.

This highly advance boat requires a crew of only two while another 8 to 10 personal can be carried depending upon the mission.  It is also equipped with roof mounted remotely operated stabilized gun turret.

Malaysia for 20 AIM-9X Block II Missiles

The Malaysian government has requested the purchase of 20 AIM-9X-2 SIDEWINDER Block II which wil cost around $52 million.

The Malaysian SIDEWINDER  deal include following 

20 AIM-9X-2 SIDEWINDER Block II All-Up-Round Missiles,
8 CATM-9X-2 Captive Air Training Missiles,
4 CATM-9X-2 Block II Missile Guidance Units,
2 AIM-9X-2 Block II Tactical Guidance Units,
2 Dummy Air Training Missiles

Malaysian F/A-18D Fighter Jets to Receive Mid Life Upgrade

Government of Malaysia has requested Foreign Military Sale of an upgraded package for its F/A-18D fighter jets.

Mid Life Upgrade of Malaysian F/A-18D fighter jets including the sale of six AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR Pods will cost around $72 million.

Is Malaysia Heading Into A Religious Civil War?

Religious Violence In Malaysia Escalates As More Churches Attacked -- The Telegraph

Religious violence in Malaysia escalated on Sunday after three more churches were attacked in an unprecedented wave of assaults on Christian houses of worship.

No one was hurt in the latest upsurge of violence which saw two churches firebombed and a third dubbed with black paint in a row sparked by a court decision allowing non-Muslims to use the word "Allah" in place of God in their literature and worship.

Four other churches in Kuala Lumpur were firebombed on Friday and Saturday amid outrage in the Muslim-majority country over the court's move to overturn a government prohibition on the use of Allah by Christians when using the Malay language.

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More News On Malaysia's Civil War

More Malaysia churches attacked -- Al Jazeera
More Malaysian churches attacked in Allah dispute -- BBC
Three More Churches, Catholic School Attacked in Malaysia -- Voice of America
Malaysian churches attacked in feud -- Press Association
Malaysia’s Prime Minister intervenes to defuse religious violence -- Times Online
Will Najib Razak Reform Malaysia? -- Karim Raslan, Wall Street Journal
Can Christians Say 'Allah'? In Malaysia, Muslims Say No -- Time Magazine