LAHAD DATU: Twenty-two bodies of Sulu gunmen have been retrieved from three operation areas in Semporna and Felda Sahabat.

Four bodies were brought out from Simunul water village in Semporna, 16 bodies were recovered in Tanjung Batu while two others in Kampung Tanduo, NST Online reported.

Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said all bodies were taken to Tawau and Lahad Datu Hospital.

Thus far, 54 gunmen from Sulu were killed since the first clash on March 1.

Ninety-seven people believed to have links with Sulu terrorists have been arrested for investigation.

LAHAD DATU — The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has been given the green light to set up a control post in Felda Sahabat, about 130km from here.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Ahmad Maslan said the MMEA post had the potential to be upgraded as MMEA base for the Lahad Datu district in future.

"MMEA has requested for approval to set up its control post at the Felda Sahabat jetty, and I am pleased to announce that it has received the go-ahead.

"We see the need for surveillance of our waters off Felda Sahabat, especially since Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced Lahad Datu as one of the five districts in the Special Security Area," he said.

He was speaking to reporters here today, after attending a briefing on the role and preparation of MMEA in 'Ops Daulat' to hunt and capture Sulu terrorists who intruded into Sabah via Kampung Tanduo, since Feb 12.

Meanwhile, Sabah and Labuan MMEA Region chief First Admiral Maritime M. Karunanithi said a temporary cabin would be set up with nine personnel for MMEA's immediate operation in Felda Sahabat.

He said the control post would facilitate quick action to be taken in an operation, without the need to wait for assistance from the MMEA bases in Sandakan and Tawau.

For 'Ops Daulat', Karunanithi said 24 MMEA assets with 416 officers and men had been deployed for offshore surveillance in the operation area.

He added, five more maritime ships were currently on their way from the Peninsula to assist in the operation. – BERNAMA