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SABAH SURVEYS | Army personnel are outraged by Warisan’s candidate’s controversial comment to Segama Mohammadin Ketapi about Lahad Datu’s intrusion.
A straw survey conducted by Malaysiakini at a naval base showed that many of them knew about the incident through social networks.
An army officer declined to comment when asked about the matter, while another said he had not read about it on social media.
However, another military man who spoke on condition of anonymity said that many of his colleagues were angered when they learned of the incident on social media.
“Many of us were deployed there (Lahad Datu) even though we did not play a significant role. At that time, the news of the death of security members saddened us.
“As such, we are angry at such an insensitive comment (from Mohammadin),” he said.
“This incident alone has made me change my mind about one party (Warisan),” he added.
Meanwhile, another member of the military said that Mohammadin’s comment was illogical and many of his colleagues were angry.
Despite this, he said that the incident alone would not influence his vote as it would weigh all the factors.
He said he would cast a vote that would make a difference for Sabah.
“This incident would be one of many factors that I would have to consider before voting,” he added.
Another officer who shared his point of view said he would like to consider voting for a third force.
He also said that the former Pakatan Harapan minister of tourism and culture was known for making controversial comments.
A total of 2,317 navy personnel will vote at the Kota Kinabalu Royal Malaysian Naval Base in Sepanggar, Sabah, as early voters.
They are part of the 16,877 members of the security forces who will go to the polls today, made up of 7,487 members of the Armed Forces and their spouses, as well as 9,390 police officers and their spouses.
Read more: Sabah Decides 2020: Making sense of players, parties and battles
Meanwhile, security forces personnel on duty will cast their votes on the day of the election, which is scheduled for September 26.
In the short video clip that went viral early Monday, Mohammadin had told voters while campaigning that the 2013 Lahad Datu incident was just a to play (staged act) by the federal government then.
He claimed that the Umno-led government had done so to secure the support of the Sabahans in the thirteenth general election, which was held later the same year.
Mohammadin had since apologized for his comment saying that the short video clip of his comments had been taken out of context.
Following his remarks, the minister was bombarded with criticism for allegedly insulting members of the security forces who fought and died in the battle.
The police, with the help of the armed forces, launched “Operation Daulat” in March 2013 in response to the intrusion of an armed group calling itself the “Royal Sulu Army”. The group wanted to claim Sabah as their territory.
The incident ended a month later, in early April. By then, ten members of the security forces had been killed. The intruders suffered 65 casualties while another 100 were arrested.
Mohammadin had claimed homosexuals did not exist in Malaysia, he said he was “too poor” declare assets when the then Harapan government made asset disclosure mandatory and shot down a coalition MP who expressed concern about child sexual abuse.
Follow Malaysiakini’s coverage of the Sabah state elections here.
