Hishammuddin entertaining questions from the media, yesterday.
KOTA KINABALU: Home Minister Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein wants rumour mongers to take a rest and let the government focus on the security and safety of the Sabah people, especially those in Lahad Datu.
Assuring the people that the security forces will not compromise on the security and Sabahans’ rights, he said they were doing their level best to ensure that things are under control and that the situation will be dealt with “without bloodshed or death”.
“In fact, we have been on it (security) from the beginning, which is not only commendable but believe that the matter is well handled by our security forces. So I am here today to assure the people that these people are not militants or terrorists, but since they came armed, it is our duty to know what and why they are here and it will be dealt with without bloodshed or death,” he told reporters upon arrival from Kuala Lumpur at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport yesterday.
He said most importantly was that for the people to reject any speculations and rumours that have been going around since the issue was highlighted last week, adding that for someone who has access to all information, he assures that all the so-called breaking news on the Internet are “baseless”.
“I want to remind the people not to look at it as it is something that can be polemic or politicised, and hope that we can all be patient because the security forces have been given the mandate to carry out operations to protect the security and safety of the people here, which is also in line with the intentions of both the federal and state governments.
Hishammuddin is expected to be in Lahad Datu today to monitor the situation, besides giving morale support to the security forces deployed to Kampung Tanduo, nearby the Felda Sahabat, in Lahad Datu since a few weeks back.
“We also want to ensure that all operations are carried out as planned and ensure that no untoward incidents will happen.
“In fact, we would like this matter to be settled fast, and if we really want to act on it, we would have taken action even on the first day, because as I said before, we were above and on it … but on this sort of situation, we do not want any fatalities, for whatever reason, to happen.
“What is more important is for the people to see how professional our authorities are, so whether the matter can be settled fast or long, it will depend on the experts, so let’s just let them do their job,” he said.
Asked on the progress of the proposed meeting with a personality, one by the name on Ismail Kiram, Hishammuddin said there were many aspects to the issue, but confirmed that they were working closely with the Philippines government and security forces and it all would go through Wisma Putra.
“I have also been in contact with Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, and have in fact spoken to him this morning (yesterday), so I will get the latest situation as far as the Philippines’ position is concerned. They too confirmed that this group is not militant or terrorists, and we will see how things developed from there. For now, there is no point to speculate, because there may be conditions that can be fulfilled and some cannot be fulfilled.
“This issue is not political, nor does it concern the races or sovereignty, but since it concerns our land and it may affect the nation’s security, we need to handle the matter wisely without any bloodshed in our country,” he said.
On the criticism from the opposition that the government had failed in its negotiation with the armed group, stressing that it showed their inefficiency in handling such matter, Hishammuddin said: “It is their job to oppose, and when we do good things, they never applaud us anyway. The police have never worked on the criticism or applauds from the opposition. From the very beginning, whether it is Bersih, terrorism or street crimes, I never see the opposition saying good things about what we have done but criticise. They criticise about everything and I believe that its the last opinion we should be picking at.”
Further commenting in the rumours which are heavily spread on the Internet, he said it was a new landscape by irresponsible people to create tension and he called on Sabahans to refrain from taking up such act.
“Let me visit the location first and will return with more information from the ground. I will share more details after my visit to clear the air so no one can take advantage to create unnecessary tension from the situation.”
He also brushed away speculation that these people had entered the state capital, adding: “I am here now, I do not think that they will let me come to Sabah if it is not secure. Do not sensationalise the issue, let’s just bring down the temperature and refrain from politicising the polemic, the issue, and I do not think the Police Special Branch would spread such rumours … I am here today, and I can assure that situations are secure and safe.”
When asked about the seemingly poor defence level at the entry points, he pointed out that it was “very good” and that there have been no kidnapping incidents reported.
“I do not think that this group of people is here to harm Malaysians. But people must understand that the Sabah coastline is huge, and it is the same as everywhere else in the world, we cannot see the possibilities in any situations … I am just happy that no locals have been taken hostage by them,” he said.
Hishammuddin said security would be tighten along the coastlines.
He was earlier briefed on the Lahad Datu situation by State Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib.
Also present was Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Seri Salleh Mat Rashid.
The government and the security forces are currently finding solutions to the intrusion of over 100 armed people, who called themselves as the army of the Sultan of Sulu.
Hamza, in his earlier report, disclosed that negotiation had ended and that they would be deporting these people in the very near future.