KUALA LUMPUR: An air of sadness hung over the 216th Police Day celebrations for a time as Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) personnel put on a pantomime based on the Lahad Datu armed incursion.
It was more touching as the three children of the late Asst Supt Zulkifli Mamat – Mohd Akmal Amuruddin, 15, Noor Muhammad Aqil, 11, and Noor Aqib Syahid, 10 – were also involved in the performance.
Also present were Sjn Sabarudin Daud's sons Haziq Wahiduzzaman, 28, and Hareq Zafri, 21.
Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah was visibly emotional while Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim shed tears watching the pantomime.
The performance, which depicted the operation to combat the trespass of a group of armed intruders from the southern Philippines claiming to represent the defunct Sulu sultanate, was presented by more than 80 police personnel who were mostly involved in the 2013 incident.
On March 1 that year, ASP Zulkifli and Sjn Sabarudin gave their lives in service to the country while 12 intruders were killed by security forces at Kampung Tanduo.
The next day, six police personnel were killed in an ambush at Kampung Sri Jaya Simunul, Semporna.
They were Asst Comm Ibrahim Lebar, Asst Supt Michael Padel, Sjn Abdul Azis Sarikon, L/kpl Mohd Azrul Tukiran, Sjn Detective Baharin Hamit, Kpl Salam Tugiran and Prebet Ahmad Hurairah Ismail.
