Ghapur blasts Deputy Minister over Sulu response
Published on: Wednesday, July 03, 2013
KALABAKAN MP Datuk Seri Abdul Ghapur Salleh lambasted Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaffar over his explanation on why the Government was slow to react to the invasion of Sulu fighters into Sabah in February this year that resulted in 72 deaths, including 10 Malaysian security personnel.Since the intruders were from Philippines, the government had to consult Manila in the spirit of Asean, said the deputy minister. "We needed to cooperate with them before doing anything, " he said.Ghapur hit back: "If someone enters my home with weapons, and on top of that, bullies me, will I negotiate? Of course I won't. I will take my shotgun and shoot him.ADVERTISEMENT "We in the East Coast cannot sleep at night because of this."This was an intrusion which means we were lackadaisical and to top it we let them negotiate."He said that he had spoken in the House before about lax security along the Sabah coastline but little was done. Wan Junaidi said that the government had put in place certain measures and could guarantee the safety of Sabahans with the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone.To which Ghapur replied: "But we don't feel it is guaranteed. We don't want you to say that our safety is guaranteed."ADVERTISEMENT Wan Junaidi had said since the intruders were foreigners, the police investigation focused first on the reason for the intrusion in the interest of relations between Malaysia and the Philippines."After the investigation started and when our police were attacked (by the intruders), only then it was discovered that the group's intention was to invade and terrorise.
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"Nevertheless, the investigation also looked at the country's relations with the Philippines in the spirit of regional cooperation...that was why the investigation took time as it required cooperation between two countries.Wan Junaidi said the people should also realise the situation in Sabah's east coast with the coastline being 1,700km long and the short distance between Lahad Datu and southern Philippines which made security surveillance difficult.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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He said 30 individuals allegedly involved in the armed intrusion were being prosecuted in stages in the Tawau court since May 24 after they were charged under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.Four of them are Malaysians, one is a permanent resident and the rest are foreigners.