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.<br /><br />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.
