Anifah said Wisma Putra will get detailed information on the matter from the Philippines to start an investigation here, to identify the culprit who abetted terrorists to create instability.
“I have asked my counterpart to provide further information on what was reported in the Philippines, that there was a possibility of third party involvement.
“Some diplomats and ambassadors are also asking, the diplomatic corps, why now? That’s the very question being frequently asked at this moment of time.
“So, besides the focus and priority to finding the solution to the problem that’s happening in Lahad Datu, we at the same time will begin investigations on the possibility of the 3rd party involvement,” he told reporters after a briefing session with diplomatic corps and media on the “Ops Daulat” in Lahad Datu, Sabah, in Putra Jaya on Wednesday.
Earlier, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had also ordered the intelligence authorities to investigate a claim that an opposition leader had a hand in the armed intrusion in Lahad Datu, Sabah.
The Philippines Daily Inquirer had used a Reuters news agency article quoting a Philippines military officer as saying the intruders had come on the “invitation” of a Malaysian opposition politician.
The Manila Times had reportedly claimed that the incursion was related to the Malaysian opposition’s campaign to give Sabah autonomy, if they win the general election.
However, Anifah said the allegation was a serious matter but there must be strong evidence to identify the truth.
He described the armed terrorist group’s action as a heinous act of terrorism and stressed that Malaysia never recognized claims by any parties on Sabah or any part of Malaysia.
In carrying out of the operation against the terrorist group, he said the government will continue to take the necessary measures to provide protection to civilians in the concerned areas.
“All measures are also being taken to address humanitarian needs, including medical needs of civilians. Various government departments and agencies are working together to help locals in the affected areas.
“Malaysia therefore views with serious concern the unjustified and unsubstantiated allegations of human rights abuses, as reported by some media in the Philippines. We strongly reject such allegations,” he added.
The minister said that all action taken by the government had been in conformity with applicable Malaysian law, rules, regulation and national policies and applicable international norms and standards.
“In carrying out the operation, the government not only complies with the guarantees as set out in the Malaysian Federal Constitution but also applicable international human rights norms and standards,” he said.
Anifah said, the government was also committed to upholding the principles of ASEAN Charter and ASEAN Declaration of human rights.
“Malaysia’s position is very clear, the terrorist should lay down their arms and surrender unconditionally to allow for the law to take its course,” he said.
At the same time Anifah said, Malaysia will not get its Asean neighbours involved in the East Sabah crisis because Malaysia has the situation under control.
According to him, he had briefed the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, yesterday on the developments of the situation in Lahad Datu and Semporna, Sabah.
“We respect the internal affairs of any other member states in Asean. I have briefed the Sultan of Brunei, who is also the chairman of Asean.
“He appreciated the brief on the stand off and it is not necessary to involve any of our neighbours as we are at the top of the situation,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Navy said it has seized firearms and ammunition from 35 suspected followers of the Sulu sultanate, one of them a woman, intercepted in the waters around Andolingan Island in Tawi-Tawi Wednesday morning.
Lieutenant Commander Gregory Fabic, the Navy spokesman, said the patrol ship BRP Mariano Alvarez and the gunboat BRP Jose Andrada intercepted two watercraft west of Andolingan Island around 6:30 a.m.
Western Mindanao Command chief, Lieutenant General Rey Ardo said both boats had come from Sabah and were headed for Tawi-Tawi when intercepted. One of the passengers was wounded, Ardo said, and that six firearms were found on the two boats.
The suspects were taken to the Juan Magluyang Naval Base in Barangay Batubatu, Panglima Sugala, about an hour’s drive from Bongao, Tawi-Tawi. No one has been allowed inside the base.
There have been reports of Tausug heading out to reinforce the followers of the Sulu sultanate in Sabah since hostilities with Malaysian security forces broke out early this month.
Both the Philippines and Malaysia have set up naval blockades to prevent reinforcements from joining the sultanate’s followers in Sabah.
Before this incident, Philippine authorities said they had also intercepted 70 of the sultanate’s followers who were heading to Sabah.
But hundreds of Filipinos from Sabah have arrived in the southern Philippines after fleeing from what many of them say has been a crackdown by Malaysian authorities. – Agencies
Sabah's Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has been placed under the command of the Defence Ministry to address the security issues relating to the state's porous border.
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ReplyDeleteMinister Datuk Seri Dr Zahid Hamidi said the handover was made official on March 8 following an appointment letter from the Prime Minister's Office, signed by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
ReplyDeleteHe said this was a much needed move in light of the Lahad Datu intrusions, adding that the size of Sabah's open coasts made it vulnerable to such threats.
“This move will only be for the Sabah MMEA and is needed to coordinate operations with the navy in protecting Sabah's border. I accept this responsibility given by the Prime Minister's Office in defending the sovereignty of the state,” Dr Zahid Hamidi told reporters during a press conference in Wisma Pertahanan here yesterday.
ReplyDeleteOn the latest developments in Lahad Datu, Dr Zahid Hamidi called it a “long haul” problem.
“We are facing a matter of intrusions that are happening over 1,400km along the east coast of Sabah. We may need to add assets, not only for the land-based armed force but also for the coast guards,” he said.
In line with the setting up of the Special Security Area (ESSCOM), Dr Zahid Hamidi said the necessary assets would be procured for the MMEA and the navy to secure the coast.
ReplyDeleteHowever, he did not specify these assets.
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak mengarahkan pihak berkuasa terutama pihak risikan menyiasat dakwaan bahawa ada pemimpin pembangkang terlibat dengan insiden pencerobohan di Lahad Datu, Sabah.
ReplyDeleteAdakah tuduhan ini benar?
DeleteKatanya dakwaan itu suatu perkara yang serius tetapi dakwaan itu memerlukan bukti kukuh bagi mengenal pasti dalang di sebalik kejadian itu.
ReplyDeleteBeliau hairan kenapa kumpulan itu datang ke Sabah ketika ini semasa negara sedang hampir untuk mengadakan pilihan raya umum sedangkan tuntutan Kesultanan Sulu ke atas sudah lama dibuat.
ReplyDeleteBenar, masa pencerobohan ini teramat rapat denagn PRU13 dan memberi anggapan yang amat negatif.
DeleteSemua pihak kena siasat. Filipina, Presiden Aquino pun nak tahu apa sebenarnya. Perkaran ini satu ‘embaarrassment’ (penghinaan) yang besar kepada kerajaan Filipina.
ReplyDeletePerdana Menteri mengulas laporan media asing bahawa ada pemimpin pembangkang terlibat dengan insiden pencerobohan oleh kumpulan yang mendawa Tentera Diraja Kesultanan Sulu itu.
ReplyDeletePhilippine Daily Inquirer menggunakan artikel agensi berita Reuters yang memetik seorang pegawai tentera Filipina sebagai berkata penceroboh terbabit datang atas ‘jemputan’ seorang ahli politik pembangkang Malaysia.
ReplyDeleteManila Times pula dilaporkan mendakwa bahawa pencerobohan secara mendadak itu adalah berkaitan dengan kempen pembangkang Malaysia untuk memberi autonomi kepada Sabah jika mereka menang.
ReplyDeleteNajib berkata Presiden Benigno S. Aquino III juga mengarahkan agensi perisikannya menyiasat dan mencari kebenaran di sebalik insiden itu.
ReplyDeleteSisatan harus dibuat untuk mencari punca sebenar kemasukan penceroboh ini.
DeleteIa (dakwaan itu) perlu disokong dengan bukti. Gambar-gambar dan bukti berdasarkan keadaan. Kita perlu bukti kukuh untuk mengetahui siapa sebenarnya dalang di sebaliknya. Seperti yang saya sebut, mengapa semua ini (berlaku) secara tiba-tiba. Masanya begitu dekat dengan pilihan raya,” katanya.
ReplyDeleteKatanya, beliau merasakan kumpulan itu mempunyai perancangan besar untuk mengganggu gugat keamanan dan kestabilan di Sabah yang dikecapi selama ini.
ReplyDeleteDitanya sama ada keadaan pada masa ini memerlukan satu pasukan petugas membabitkan pihak berkuasa Filipina dan Malaysia, Najib berkata: ” Kita perlu buat (kerja) secara berasingan, kita boleh selaras dan bertukar-tukar maklumat
ReplyDeleteKerjasama semua pihak amat diperlukan untuk menanggani isu ini bersama.
ReplyDeleteKawalan masih diperlukan. Kuasa Sulu mungkin masih berada di Sabah.
ReplyDeleteIn the face of an intrusion into Lahad Datu, Sabah and subsequent attack by an armed group claiming to be members of the Sulu Sultanate, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have urged Malaysians to unite
ReplyDeletePro-Barisan Nasional Non-Governmental Organisation Pact president Zulkarnain Mahdar urged the people not to use the incident for personal interest.
ReplyDeleteIn a statement, he said Malaysians must be grateful to the nation’s security forces who defused the incident at Kampung Tanduo, about 130km from Lahad Datu town.
ReplyDeleteAnother NGO, Malaysian Reverted Muslim (MRM), in its entry on Facebook, condemned the action of a politician who tried to use the issue to garner political support.
ReplyDelete“When lives are lost, politicians are busy saying this is a consiracy and blame their political opponents … shameful. At a moment when kinsmen and families of those killed are sad, is this the reaction of politicians?” he asked.
ReplyDeleteThere are at least five important takeaways from the violent incident in Lahad Datu.
ReplyDeleteFirst, that there is a serious security deficit in the eastern coastal areas of Sabah that needs to be remedied in a sustained and comprehensive fashion.
The knee-jerk and periodic spikes in the attention given to the situation in Sabah in response to specific incidents like piracy and kidnappings, and now armed intrusion, needs to be replaced by long-term and strategic measures to transform the security environment in the area.
ReplyDeleteAs Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak aptly put it, Lahad Datu is a "wake-up call".
ReplyDeleteThe security problems in Sabah have been traditionally under-estimated.
Second takeaway is that the key to resolving Sabah's security problems lies ultimately in the Philippines, not in Malaysia.
ReplyDeleteUntil peace and stability is restored in Mindanao and its adjacent islands and the people there can earn a decent livelihood, Sabah will remain a magnet for those who seek greater security and a better life.
Armed conflicts in the Philippines cannot but have serious spillover effects on Sabah, and poor and marginalised elements like the Sulu claimants will be tempted to agitate on the non-issue
ReplyDeleteThird takeaway is that close bilateral friendship and collaboration is indispensable for tackling security problems like those faced by Malaysia in Sabah.
ReplyDeleteNajib's success in forging close ties with the administration of President Benigno Aquino has helped secure the neighbour's active participation in policing the seas and containing the armed threat.
Fourth takeaway is that despite a fair amount of distorted and emotional reporting in the Philippine media, they have generally refrained from unduly whipping up anti-Malaysian sentiment among the Filipino public.
ReplyDeleteThis has been helpful in managing the situation. It is also in stark contrast to the intense attacks on Malaysia in the Indonesian media. The dynamics are obviously very different in the two situations.
ReplyDeleteThe fifth and final takeaway is that complex and volatile security situations are best handled by stable and strong governments that are inclusive and that have been democratically elected.
ReplyDeleteIn the case of Malaysia, with its federal system, it would also be helpful if both the federal and state governments are administered by the same political party.
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