Malay News:Lahad Datu: Show of flower power at embassy

Give peace a chance: Sabahans Ronna Jaiwin, 38, (right) and Dayang Siti Salwani Awang Kasah, 36, placing bouquets of flowers in front of the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

KUALA LUMPUR: Flowers are being placed outside the Philippines Embassy at Jalan Changkat Kia Peng here as a symbol of hope for peace to return to Sabah. A 37-year-old IT technician from Kota Kinabalu placed a red rose outside the gates of the embassy here at 2.15pm. “My prayer is that there will be peace once again in Lahad Datu, Semporna and the rest of Sabah. “I hope we will no longer have to be afraid over the safety of our friends and family living there,” said the man who declined to be named. He said he had been following closely the recent events in his home state and that they weighed heavily on his heart. “When I read about this initiative on Twitter, I decided I would express my wish for peace in Sabah,” he said. The initiative, dubbed Ops Bunga, was started by blogger Joe Lee on March 6. Outside the embassy, Lee said the idea to “fight fire with flowers” was to call for peace and show appreciation to those at the frontline in Lahad Datu and Semporna. “We also wish to show our appreciation to the Philippine government for not supporting the intrusion and to tell Filipinos we can and should live together in peace,” he said. Actor Remy Ishak, who also placed a small bouquet at the gates, said his prayers were constantly with those at the frontline, including his younger brother. “I hope peace will be achieved soon so my brother and the rest can come home safely to their families,” an emotional Remy said. Thirty members of the United Sabah Suluk Association were also present at the event to deliver a memorandum to the Philippines ambassador. Its acting president Faisal Sisar said the memorandum called for the intruders to leave Malaysia immediately, and for self-proclaimed Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III to be brought and tried here. “Otherwise, we Suluks living in Malaysia will cut all ties with the Sulus in the Philippines,” he said, adding that there were about 800,000 Suluks in Malaysia.