10 March 2013| last updated at 08:11PM
By Olivia Miwil | news@nstp.com.my
SANDAKAN: Around 1,000 Philippine refugees here have packed up and fled en masse for Sulu since Saturday.
Sabah Suluk United Association's Sandakan division president Jamal Ali said the refugees were seen boarding the boats from the central market in the town.
"Some of them claimed that they were afraid by the heavy presence of our security forces and the constant operations held around the town these few days."
"These refugees felt it was safer for them to go back to their homeland now," he told New Straits Times.
Jamal added that those refugees mainly work at the factories here.
He also denied the Philippine's media report that the Suluk group here left because they were harrased by police or that some of them were killed during the Ops Daulat operation.
Another witness Abdul Rahman Junaidi said these groups including women and young children, brought lots of packed items on the boats.
"From here, the boats will send them to Pulau Berhala where they will get into a "Kumpit" (a barter trade ship) heading back to their homeland.
"The journey takes about 23 hours and cost RM70 for each passenger," he added.
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