1

here is a differing account of the situation from the Philippines...

A senior Philippine military official said navy boats and an aircraft had been sent to the border area. He dismissed the Malaysian account of the group, saying they were unarmed Filipinos who had been promised land in Sabah.

He said a meeting over the land claim had attracted a large crowd and drawn the attention of Malaysian authorities.

"We know that these people arrived there five days ago and most of them are from nearby islands," said the official, who asked not to be identified.

"Some of them were already residents in Sabah for a long time and they normally cross the border without any problem."

Another Philippine military officer said the men were followers of the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu - an island group off the southern Philippines - who had been invited to Sabah by a Malaysian opposition politician to discuss land issues.

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I hope that this gets resolved peacefully. Anyone know if the highway through to Semporna, bus station, airport, and the Danum Valley HQ in Lahad Datu are affected?

Not sure how non-citizens of Malaysia/Sabah would be "promised land" and it seems a bit strange that an Malaysian opposition politician would be involved. Lots of rumors flying - armed or unarmed, 100 to up to 400, and the blog sites in the Philippines are rampant with calls for the army to "support them" and make true on the Sulu Sultanates legitimate claims for Sabah.

I've never gotten the feeling that anyone in Sabah (even the Suluq or Bajau) were particularly keen on being placed under the rule of the Sultan of Sulu or being annexed by the Phiippines.