Zulkarnain (centre) meeting the press during the peaceful demonstration yesterday.
Protesters carrying banners condemning Nurul Izzah and Tian Chua for meeting Jacel Kiram in Manila.
KOTA KINABALU: More than 300 people from three non-governmental organisations (NGOs) staged a peaceful demonstration at the entrance to the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) yesterday, to condemn Nurul Izzah Anwar and Tian Chua for meeting Jacel H.Kiram-Hasan in Manila, Philippines recently.
The three NGOs, Sabah Pro Barisan Nasional (Pro-BN), Badan Bertindak Cintanusan Sabah and Gerakan Mahasiswa Pro-BN, led by Sabah Pro-BN president Zulkarnain Mahdarhas, said the demonstration was to condemn the two opposition leaders who had no respect for the feelings of Sabahans as well as families of the security forces who were killed during the Tanduo intrusion in Lahad Datu in 2013 while defending the sovereignty of the nation.
“This demonstration was held spontaneously without receiving any instructions from any party, because we, as Malaysians, felt betrayed by what Nurul Izzah and Tian Chua had done.
“Action must be taken against both the PKR leaders but whatever the decision is taken, we, Sabahans will hold both Nurul Izzah and Tian Chua accountable,” he said when met yesterday.
The demonstration was held following a photo of the Lembah Pantai member of parliament Nurul Izzah Anwar posing with the daughter of Jamalul Kiram that was uploaded in the latter’s Facebook page on November 9.
The photo, which was said to have been taken in Manila, also shows both women holding a banner for the release of Datuk Seri Anuar Ibrahim, the father of Nurul Izzah.
Meanwhile, the one-hour peaceful demonstration, which began at 9.30am yesterday, saw protesters carrying banners reading ‘Nurul Izzah dan Tian Chua Pengkhianat Negara Bertemu Jacel Kiram!’ (Nurul Izzah and Tian Chua National Traitor Met with Jacel Kiram!), ‘Nurul Izzah dan Tian Chua Pengkhianat!’ (Nurul Izzah and Tian Chua are traitors!) and ‘PKR Keluar Dari Sabah!’ (PKR get out of Sabah!).
Zulkarnain also met with the State Legislative Assembly Speaker’s secretary, Sainin Saien, to hand a motion to condemn both the PKR vice-presidents and to bar them from entering the state in the future.
By 10.30am, all the demonstrators dispersed without untoward incident under the watchful eyes of the police who kept the situation under control.