style="text-transform: uppercase;">Tawau: Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed committed "economic crimes" in Sabah when he disclosed that Sulu forces in southern Philippines are planning a "revenge attack" following the Lahad Datu invasion in 2013, State Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Pang Yuk Ming said Sunday. Expressing regret over the disclosure, Pang said unsubstantiated information should be handled discreetly as secret intelligence among the security community.

"Over the last couple of years, several federal leaders have taken cheap and 'below the belt' shots on the people of Sabah by making insensitive and uncalled for statements that served no interest to anyone here other than cheap publicity for themselves.

"The latest disclosure by the Deputy Home Minister to the world on unsubstantiated information, for unknown reasons, has only served to frighten the people of Sabah and given strength to the incorrect perception that Sabah is unsafe.

"Maybe unknown to him, his action also exposed his inability to carry out his sworn duties and responsibilities as Deputy Home Minister to safeguard our nation, and worse still, has undermined the abilities and capabilities of our security forces at the frontline to protect our beloved Sabah.

"Such behaviours are unheard of in other developed countries as true leaders understand the importance of not causing unnecessary uncertainties and fear among their citizens," said Pang.

He added that it was already painful for many in the tourism industry to have so many foreign countries issuing travel advisories on Sabah recently over security issues under the jurisdiction of Nur Jazlan's Ministry.

"Many of us felt victimised and unfairly singled out by foreign communities when no such advisory was seen anywhere after the horrific and senseless attacks in Paris. But to have our own Federal leader to make such unnecessary statement is like 'our own family members hammering the last nail to our coffin'," he said.

"It must be beyond such leaders' comprehension that what they have said will have negative repercussions on Sabah and undoubtedly, led to potential loss of hundreds of millions in revenue that will definitely affect many Sabahans whose livelihood depend on tourism," he added.

"With this latest statement from our senior Federal leader, those foreign advisories issued will definitely be heightened and most likely leads to other countries that have not done so to do it.

"When will these leaders learn to stop putting their foot in their mouth and start helping us instead of rubbing more salts to our wounds."

Pang said it is time to put a stop to all these nonsense once and for all as in the case of Nurul Izzah and Tian Chua.

"We must take serious action against federal leaders who have struck unnecessary fear, uncertainties, uneasiness and anger among Sabahans or and in this case, committed economic crimes against us."