Justice is served, say widows

Police and prison guards escort the accused at the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya

KOTA KINABALU: The decision by the Court of Appeal to put to death nine militants is well received by several affected family members.

Noor Aziah Noor, 33, widow of the late VAT69 commando Asst Supt Zulkifli Mamat described the judgment as “justice is served”.

ASP Zulkifli, 30, was one of nine members of the Malaysian security forces who were killed during the Sulu intrusion in Lahad Datu that occurred between Feb 12 and April 10, 2013.

“I am happy with the verdict. I feel that justice is served for all that they have done and the pain they have caused,” she said.

Noor Aziah was one of those who spoke out earlier, voicing her disappointment when the Kota Kinabalu High Court ordered the nine intruders to serve a natural life sentence.

The mother of three said she and her children aged four, five and nine, have learnt to live without their family backbone.

“We are slowly coming to terms with him gone. This sentence will serve as a lesson to intruders out to destroy our country,” she said.

Another widow Sitti Bando­rah, whose late husband police Sjn Abdul Aziz Sarikon, 52, was killed in the March 2 bloody incident in Kampung Simunul, Semporna, said the death sentence was the best news she had heard so far.

“Those people have caused us suffering and pain,” said the 43-year-old mother of four.

She said although those responsible have been given the death penalty, it did not erase their pain.

“God is just. This is what they deserve,” she said.

The two VAT69 commandos who perished were ASP Zulkifli and Sjn Sabaruddin Daud, 46.

Six other policemen who were killed by the gunmen were Sjn Abdul Aziz, Kpl Salam Tugiran, 42, ACP Ibrahim Lebar, 52, ASP Michael Padel, 36, L/Kpl Mohd Azrul Tuki­ran, 27, and Sjn Baharin Hamit, 49.

Another soldier Pbt Ahmad Hurairah Ismail, 27, died in a traffic mishap.