A manhunt is underway after a Malaysian marine police officer was killed and another abducted when heavily armed men opened fire at a scuba diving resort on Mabul Island, off the coast of Borneo.
Malaysian media is reporting that eight men dressed in military fatigues with their faces covered arrived in rowboats around 11 p.m. and ambushed officers Abdul Rajah Jamuan and Zakiah Aleip who were taking a late meal in the Mabul Water Bungalow Resort’s restaurant.
Sergeant Jeffridin Harun and another unnamed officer, who were on anchor watch at the time took cover on a the jetty as gunmen fired at least ten rounds from 7.62mm calibre rifles.
The attackers then escaped in the rowboats.
Sergeant Jeffridin and the other officer then discovered Corporal Rajah’s dead body floating beneath the jetty.
The marine police base on Semporna dispatched several patrol boats to the scene and to try to intercept the attackers at Adal Island.
A naval vessel and a Super Lynx helicopter was deployed to search for Constable Zakiah, who remains missing, feared kidnapped.
It is not clear who is responsible for the attack, said Abdul Rashid Haron, who heads the Eastern Sabah Security Command, but previous similar attacks have been the work of Abu Sayyaf militants.
There is speculation that the gunmen had intended to abduct tourists but took the police officer when none could be found.
