KUALA LUMPUR: In the face of an intrusion into Lahad Datu, Sabah and subsequent attack by an armed group claiming to be members of the Sulu Sultanate, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have urged Malaysians to unite.
Pro-Barisan Nasional Non-Governmental Organisation Pact president Zulkarnain Mahdar urged the people not to use the incident for personal interest.
In a statement here yesterday, he said Malaysians must be grateful to the nation’s security forces who defused the incident at Kampung Tanduo, about 130km from Lahad Datu town.
In the attack by the group against the Malaysian security forces, two police commandos were killed and three injured. Twelve armed intruders were killed.
The pact represents 72 registered NGOs.
Another NGO, Malaysian Reverted Muslim (MRM), in its entry on Facebook, condemned the action of a politician who tried to use the issue to garner political support.
“When lives are lost, politicians are busy saying this is a consiracy and blame their political opponents … shameful. At a moment when kinsmen and families of those killed are sad, is this the reaction of politicians?” he asked.
On Friday, Batu member of parliament (MP) Tian Chua issued a statement in the portal, KeadilanDaily, alleging the shootout in Lahad Datu was an Umno conspiracy to divert attention and scare the people.
Meanwhile, Selangor Barisan Nasional Coordinator Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohamed said Tian Chua was not qualified to be a Malaysian citizen for politicising an issue involving national security.
“Tian Chua hurled a baseless accusation against Umno. Such words should not come from a member of parliament who is a maker of the law and has a responsibility to defend the nation.
In MELAKA, Umno supreme council member Datuk Idris Haron urged the people to boycott Tian Chua, saying he had a deranged mind driven by extremist natue.
Idris, who is also Tangga Batu member of parliament, said Tian Chua was in reality, ungrateful for the peace and prosperity enjoyed by the nation. — Bernama