No Sulu sultanate recruiting drive in Sabah, says state police chief

KOTA KINABALU: There are no ongoing attempts to recruit people in Lahad Datu to support the heirs of the Sulu sultanate, says Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Idris Abdullah (pic).

"Sabah police investigations and intelligence can confirm that no such group is actively recruiting Filipino people of Sulu descent in Sabah," he said in a statement on Thursday (July 28).

Idris said that police are taking such rumours seriously as they are being spread through social media.

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He added that the police are investigating a group that was issuing "Sulu Sultaniyah Darul Islam" (SSDI) for a fee.

"This group (SSDI) of individuals are aimed at profiteering," he said.

He urged the public or individuals not to spread any news or information that may cause panic or disturb public peace.

Earlier on Thursday, Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) commander Deputy Comm Datuk Hamzah Ahmad confirmed that they were investigating a police report lodged in Lahad Datu about the claims.

On Wednesday (July 27), Malaysian International Humanitarian Organisation (MHO) also lodged a report with the Kota Kinabalu police on Wednesday (July 27).

MHO Sabah coordinator Jerry Jaimeh urged police to probe the alleged movement to recruit local people in Lahad Datu to declare their loyalty to the Sulu sultanate.

He claimed that he had received several WhatsApp messages containing forms that look like personal identity documents for the Sultanate of Sulu and also certificates of loyalty by individuals from Sabah to the Sulu sultanate.