KOTA KINABALU: Ops Daulat to flush out the Sulu gunmen will end only when none of the intruders are left in Sabah, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein (pic) said Saturday.
"They have not laid down their arms unconditionally, so this will go on," he said, adding that all security officers on duty to clear bodies of the slain gunmen must place safety first in all their undertakings.
"We heard about people saying there were booby traps on the blast sites so my advice is plan your moves properly and make sure safety is the top priority on the list," he said.
He said the latest number of gunmen killed was 53, but did not rule out the possibility that there could be more.
Meanwhile, Hishammuddin said they were looking at ways to involve the community with volunteer bodies such as Rela and the Civil Defence Department and other enforcement as well as security agencies to safeguard Sabah.
"A plan will be rolled out to determine how every citizen can help in ensuring the safety of the state. We want people to be part of this inclusively," he told reporters at the Kepayan police headquarters here.
He said the Government would do all it could to ensure incidents such as the Lahad Datu and Semporna shootouts do not happen again.
"We will not let our guard down and this effort will be continued," he said, adding that plans were also being drawn up out to establish the Special Security Area for Sabah's eastcoast right to the northern Kudat, as announced by the Prime Minister.
"The action is immediate and soon, the whole plan will be realised for the five districts of Kudat, Tawau, Kunak, Sandakan and Lahad Datu," he said.
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