PAPAR: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday commended the federal government for its swift action to reinforce the security forces in Sabah to safeguard its sovereignty amidst threats from Sulu extremists.
The setting-up of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM), he said signalled the country’s uncompromising commitment in protecting the safety and security of its people.
“For Malaysians in Sabah who want security, they surely would see that the government had acted speedily (in dealing with the threats). We brought reinforcement from Peninsular Malaysia to fortify our defence here. This is who we are, we will defend any parts of country that are threatened,” he said.
Speaking to media after delivering a talk here yesterday, Mahathir said Sabah has always been peaceful and the government would do anything in its power to keep it that way.
He said the federal government recognized that Sabah is a vast state with long coastlines, that is difficult to monitor but the security personnel sent to Sabah were willing to sacrifice themselves to defend the country’s sovereignty.
Mahathir in defending the offensive launched by the police and military against the armed intruders in Lahad Datu, said Malaysia had always been friendly to its neighbours but the fact was that the lives of its citizens had been lost in firefight against the extremist group.
He said such aggression could not be tolerated and should be dealt with accordingly.
“We cannot just do nothing. We don’t know if it will be only the security personnel who would be killed or if they would kill our civilians too.
“They attacked a bank before so we cannot take any chances. The setting-up of ESSCOM is to make sure this does not happen,” he said.
Asked if he sees the possibility that the security concerns in Lahad Datu might continue or even escalate further to the extent that an emergency need to be declared and elections be delayed, he said: “We used to have emergency but we still had elections. In Malaysia, we hold elections while at the same time ensure security so that everything can be done safely.”