The chair of the Human Rights Commission of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Laisa Alamia, says so far 47 Filipino families have voluntarily fled Sabah to nearby Tawi-tawi since the outbreak of violence in Lahad Datu between local armed forces and followers of a self-proclaimed Sultan of Sulu. She expects the numbers may rise in coming days as Filipinos leave the state either voluntarily or by forced deportation.
Laisa is calling for both the Malaysian and Philippine governments to tone down their approach as the Sabah incidents have affected Tawi-tawi - where prices of commodities have gone up by 50 to 100 per cent since the outbreak of violence.