Malaysia to resettle villagers in east Sabah over incursion threat

Malaysia has planned to resettle villagers in eastern Sabah state vulnerable to intruders from southern Philippines.The announcement of the plan by Prime Minister Najib Razak on Monday, triggered by a deadly siege by a group of about 180 militants, underscored the government's concern that the Filipino who resettled in east Sabah could have aided the intruders.Najib said the government would provide adequate amenities and security on the resettlement's source of livelihood, and opportunities for education and employment.The militants from southern Philippines landed in remote eastern town of Lahad Datu on Feb. 9 to stake a 17th century claim on the land.At least 75 people have died since the standoff between Malaysian forces and the militants that started more than a month ago, including eight policemen and two soldiers.The militants were followers of a defunct Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III who has been pressing for Sabah to be returned to his sultanate.Malaysian authorities said they have captured the commander of the Sulu militants and are still combing parts of east Sabah for the son of Jamalul over the weekend as they sought to end one of the country's worst security crisis in history.Sabah is less than an hour away from the Philippines by boat.There are 800,000 Filipinos living in Sabah, many of whom have slipped into Sabah illegally through the porous sea border.