Malaysian forces in standoff with self-described Sultan in Sabah

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Malaysian VAT69 police commandos on patrol

Twelve followers of a self-described Philippine Sultan died in a shootout with Malaysian security forces Friday, police said, as tensions ratcheted up in their 17-day standoff.

Hamza Taib, police chief of the Malaysian state of Sabah, also said two security personnel were killed and that the standoff with the Filipino intruders continued, contradicting earlier official statements suggesting it was over.

The two Southeast Asian neighbours were caught by surprise on February 12 when dozens of followers of the little-known sultan of Sulu sailed from their remote Philippine islands to press the sultan's claim to Sabah, which is on Borneo island.

Jamalul Kiram III, 74, says he is heir to the Islamic Sultanate of Sulu, which once controlled parts of Borneo, as well as southern Philippine islands.

Hamza said the shootout was sparked when the intruders, who have been estimated variously at between 100 to 300 people, fired Friday at security forces as they were tightening their cordon in a remote corner of Sabah.

"The intruders fired at us, then we returned fire," he said.

"As a result of the fire two of my men died, three were injured and... 12 intruders died."

"The operation is still going on," he said, adding that police continued to surround the area where about 100 people were left.

The leader of the invaders, Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram, a brother of the self-proclaimed sultan, avoided capture in the shootout and remains in Sabah with his men to continue the fight, Idjirani added.

"This is just the beginning," he warned.