LAHAD DATU, April 26 — A battalion-strength (800 officers and men) permanent military camp will be set up in Felda Sahabat here to further beef up security in this district in the wake of the intrusion by terrorists from the southern Philippines in February, said Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) chief Gen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin.

He said the camp was needed to ensure the safety and security of Lahad Datu residents and that there was no recurrence of a terrorist incursion in the area.

"Felda Global Ventures Berhad (FGVH) has agreed to provide a 162-hectare site for the building of the camp.

"It is being set up to meet the needs of the people here who fear a repeat of what happened (the intrusion by terrorists from southern Philippines)," he told reporters after presenting clothing aid under the MAF's "Jiwa Murni" programme in Kampung Tanjung Labian near here today.

At the function, a total 120 boxes of clothing were distributed for the benefit of villagers in Kampung Sungai Bilis, Tanjung Batu and Tanjung Tanahgian.

Also present were Joint Force commander Rear Admiral Datuk Seri Ahmad Kamarulzaman Badaruddin and the Army's 1st Division commander Maj Gen Datuk Mohd Zaki Mokhtar.

Zulkifeli said construction of the camp should be completed between 24 and 32 months and it would be placed under the supervision of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM), which has been entrusted with maintaining security in Sabah's east coast.

He added that work to rebuild houses of villagers destroyed in the district during the Ops Daulat security offensive to rid the terrorists was on schedule and had the cooperation of the National Security Council and the Sabah government. –BERNAMA