VAT 69 MEMBER STILL FINDING HARD TO COME TO TERMS WITH LOSS OF FRIENDS IN LAHAD DATU TRAGEDY

By Muhammad Afiq Mohd Asri

KUALA LUMPUR,  April  2 (Bernama) -- It has been 10 years since the bloody event in Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu, Sabah, yet the feelings of sadness, anger and vengeance are still felt by Corporal Mohd Qaiyum A'iqal Zolkipli, one of the soldiers involved in the “Op Daulat” mission.

Mohd Qaiyum A'iqal,  a 69 Commando, also known as VAT 69, member, is finding it hard to come to terms with the loss of two comrades in the incident, namely ASP Zulkifli Mamat and Sergeant Sabaruddin Daud who were killed in the operation to fight the Sulu terrorists in early 2013.

"My team was in a battle in Tanduo, Lahad Datu, when we were informed that Zulkifli and Sabaruddin were hit. "When I found out that the two comrades in arms were gone, I became excited, angry and furious with the Sulu terrorists.

“Getting the news that they were killed made me angry and furious with the Sulu terrorist,” he said when met by Bernama recently. 

Mohd Qaiyum A'iqal, who is still the Royal Malaysia Police at the 69 Commando Commandant Camp Branch at the General Operations Force (PGA) Camp in Ulu Kinta Perak, said he was also wounded on the right shoulder in the battle.

He said Zulkiflin was a close friend and they shared the same hobby, which was a love for high-powered motorcycles.

"My memories of him are still fresh in my mind and one of them is the day before we left for Sabah at KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport). It was our last conversation before we boarded the plane and he also made a promise to come back (after the mission) together with me, and then hugged me.

“We boarded the same flight, and while on board, our conversation was about high-powered motorcycles,” he said.

 Mohd Qaiyum A'iqal said when a pantomime of the Lahad Datu event was re-enacted in conjunction with the 216th Police Day at the Kuala Lumpur Police Training Centre, here, recently, it really made him miss Zulkifli and Sabaruddin.

"Zulkifli's voice echoed in my mind, the conversation we had when we were together,” he added.

Recalling his involvement in Op Daulat, Mohd Qaiyum A'iqal said it was the first mission after completing the special commando training.

"At that time, I had just completed the basic commando training and at that time there was an incident of an intrusion in Laha Datu. I knew about the operation (Op Daulat). It was a big operation as it involved the country’s security and sovereignty," he said.

He said his task was as a tracker, where he was required to find out the number and strength of the enemy.

"I was required to find out what weapons the enemy was armed with, its fortress and position," he added.

In February 2013, the nation was rocked by news of intrusion by Sulu armed terrorists who had entered Malaysian waters in stages at Felda Sahabat, Lahad Datu.

On March 1, 2013, a shootout occurred in Kampung Tanduo in which 10 Malaysian security personnel and 68 Sulu terrorists were killed. The conflict was declared over on April 10, 2013.

-- BERNAMA