Abu Sayyaf’s Latest Clash in Sabah Leaves Five Dead
On a stormy night on May 18, Malaysian police scooped up a sketchy squad of suspected Abu Sayyaf operatives in Sabah—a state wedged into Malaysian Borneo, but right beside the Philippine’s southern islands. Five of these guys were outed after a bloody shootout, according to state news outlet Bernama.
Why All the Fuss?
- Abu Sayyaf is infamous for bombings, beheadings, kidnappings‑for‑ransom, and outright terror. It’s been jaw‑droppingly violent since it pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2014.
- In recent years, Malaysia has upped its game to fight the militant menace, especially after the 2016 Islamic State‑linked assault in Kuala Lumpur and similar attacks abroad.
- Sabah’s chaos has long been fueled by invaders slipping through porous sea borders—kidnappers lacing up arms and riding the tide from the Philippines.
The Shootout That Stopped the Soldiers
Late Monday evening, an undercover raid went sideways when one of the suspects opened fire. The police spun up a gunfight that quickened to a lethal finale. Inside the skitter‑rim squat, officers discovered:
- Two pistols
- 20 rounds of ammo
- Three machetes
Kaboom! The raid’s five casualties included Mabar Binda, a notorious sub‑commander on the Philippine government’s wanted list. Police Commissioner Hazani Ghazali declared victory, stating that this cell in Sabah had been thoroughly dismantled.
Statistics to Back the Claim
- Between 2014 and 2020, a whopping 83 persons in Sabah were jailed over suspected ties to the Islamic State.
- Since waves of kidnappers hit the region, the menial advances of the Peninsula reflect a broader anti‑terror stance.
Philippines Calls the Shots (And Does)
Just months earlier, the Philippine military killed a leading Abu Sayyaf member and rescued four Indonesian hostages kept for a whole year after they were snatched from Sabah. That operation proved the sea‑border fuzz is a real threat—and not just a tale on the news‑screen.
With a combined international effort, Malaysia and its neighbors are nipping violent puppeteers in the bud—one shootout at a time. The wave of fences, patrols, and law‑enforcement investments are keeping the tide of insurgency from turning into a storm.
