Who is General Musa?

Police and the forensic department confirmed his death from a post-mortem report today.

His death was deemed as one of the major development between the Malaysian security forces and the armed intruders in Lahad Datu.

Prior to the confirmation of his death, there were several reports that speculated Musa's death. So, with such hype surrounding his death, one has to wonder: Who is Haji Musa Abdullah and why is his death seen as one of the key milestone in the battle?

Musa, being one of the two Jabidah's recruits, is among the 13 Kampung Simunul residents who landed in Lahad Datu with 200 comrades last month.

Even though Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram (a Sulu Sultanate heir) is said to be the leader of the Sabah invaders, but it was really Musa who mapped out the plan, residents of Simunul told Rappler, an online news portal based in the Philippines.

In the news portal, entitled "Jabidah recruits plotted standoff", it reported that Musa had been secretly reviving Oplan Merdeka.

Oplan Merdeka is an operation formed by the Marcos army to send Muslim recruits to invade Sabah back in 1968. The operation was later scrapped.

Musa - being the deputy chief of Royal Sultanate Force (RSF), a rank below Raja Muda - was a more visible leader compared to Agbimuddin.

Ibnohasim Akmad, a RSF member who did not join the Sabah invaders, said Agbimuddin seldom visited their camp even though located just a kilometre away from his home.

He said, it was Musa who taught them the military rules.

"He (Musa) taught us certain formation, briefed us about the rules and regulations about the military, how to do it as military, how to follow military laws,” Ibnohasim added.

Rappler reported, Musa lived a retiree life till last month and wished his wife 'Goodbye' before leaving to Sabah.