TEMPO.CO, Kuala Lumpur - Malaysian government announced on Saturday, June 29, it would stop the military operation to battle the followers of Sultan Sulu, Jamalulu Kiram III, who is now residing in the southern Philippines. His followers tried to seize a number of regions in the Malaysian State of Sabah.

Around 200 armed men arrived in Sabah in February to claim regions whom they consider theirs. "We have officially halted the military operation to hunt down those rebels and supports who are still in hiding," said Minister Musa Aman, as quoted by The Star.

The battle between Malaysian army and Sulu armed group claimed at least 78 Filipino rebels and 10 Malaysian troops and this conflict has been the worst in the Malaysian history in the past few years.

The incident had strained the relations between the two countries, Malaysia and the Philippines since many Malaysians were furious over the ambush. At the same time, the Filipino government was also under pressure since they had to protect their people who were under the invasion of the Malaysian military.

Several Sultan Sulu followers, having been arrested, are now facing charges of terrorism in the Malaysian court.

Although the incident is over, Malaysian military is still imposing a special security zone along the coasts where the Sulu armed group once landed. The location has long been known as an isolate region as it was not under tight surveillance from the Malaysian military.

For centuries, locals have always travelled across the border separating Sabah with their ancestors in the southern Philippines.

L STAR | ASIAONE | SITA PLANASARI AQUADINI