In Semporna Merdeka Spirits Are High

KUALA LUMPUR: Five months have passed since the attack on a village off the coast of Semporna, Sabah, but for the people in the surrounding area, echoes of the ghastly attack lingers on.
 The incident that saw the brutal killing of six policemen which took place early this year had taken its toll on them, and this Merdeka, although will be a sombre one, but are still welcomed nonetheless.
 The village chief of Inabah Kamal in Semporna, 54-year-old Abdul Halik Yunus told Malaysian Digest yesterday that the people in his village are grateful that the ordeal was over and expressed their thanks to the security forces and those involved in helping to bring back peace and security in Sabah, particularly Lahad Datu and Semporna.
 “This coming Merdeka celebration is very meaningful to us Sabahans, as we are more grateful than ever to the meaning of Merdeka, after what had happened in Lahad Datu and Semporna. “Though we regret to have had to experience such tragic event, this does not divide us but keeps our spirits up even more,” he said. Abdul Halik said the celebration would proceed, even though many were still traumatized over the standoff. “We will be celebrating of course, but cautiously. And the people of Sabah wishes the whole Malaysia ‘Selamat Hari Merdeka’,” he added. Meanwhile, 24-year-old admin clerk Rhena Ismail echoed Abdul Halik on the Merdeka celebrations in Semporna this year, adding that the celebrations would not as merry as it used to be in previous years. “Every year, everyone in my village will have big celebrations for Merdeka Day. But this year, it seem slightly somber.
 People are not displaying and flying the Jalur Gemlang flag as much and the ambiance is more quiet and calm,” she said. Rhena said people are still troubled by the incident and many still have their guards up as rumors on future attacks are still spiraling.
 “We are not scared, just extra cautious. I have lived here in peace for 24 years and this is the first for all of us, of course we are still shocked. “Nevertheless, we are still grateful to the government for restoring peace for us. We are thankful for those who spilled their blood in protecting the country.
 We may be on high alert and somewhat traumatized, but this has lifted out spirits more and have made us more grateful than ever.” Early morning on March 3, police on surveillance operation at Kampung Siminul, Semporna was ambushed by armed gunmen claiming to be from the Sulu Sultanate
. Launched at 4pm on Saturday, the operation was carried out following intelligence reports of an uprising was in the making by certain groups of villagers believed to be non-locals residing there. It was reported that the Bukit Aman special branch superintendent and four operatives died in the action.
 In total, six Malaysian police officers and seven assailants were killed in Semporna.