Brunei Watch With Interest Terror Threat in Sabah

Bandar Seri Begawan - Neighbouring Brunei is watching with interest as Malaysia and the Philippines this week beefed up their security.

That followed the recent seizure of a large cache of weapons and the arrest of over twenty Filipinos with it, off the Sabah's coastal town of Sandakan. 

On Friday the Philippines sought Malaysia's permission to question the 22 Filipinos in order to ascertain their possible links with terror groups, according to agency reports. Neighbouring Borneo State Sabah is located a short boat ride from the Philippine province of Mindanao, where government forces are battling separatist rebels. 

It was still unclear if the intruders with weapons were members of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) a regional terror network who have alleged links to al-Qaeda or part of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) or Abu Sayyaf rebels, reports said. 

Meanwhile AFP reported yesterday that the Philippine Foreign Secretary Blas Ople sought Malaysia's permission to question the 22 suspects under a regional counter -terrorism agreement that also includes Indonesia. 

The agreement, which calls for improved anti-terrorism intelligence was signed soon after the deadly bomb blast in Bali last year. 

This week's arrest of 22 Filipinos with weapons caches in Sabah comes in the wake of upcoming joint sea and air exercises by Malaysia and Philippines later this month in this area. 

According to Reuters news agency, the proposed joint exercise sometime in May is aimed at countering militancy, piracy, smuggling and illegal immigration. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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