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PETALING JAYA: Former Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Mohamaddin Ketapi has denied disparaging the security forces involved in defending the nation during the 2013 Lahad Datu intrusion, and said his comments have been misinterpreted and taken out of context.
He said that he had not disparaged or insulted the security forces who had given their lives to defend the sovereignty of the nation, but that he was only highlighting the failure of the BN government to enhance its defense assets to prevent such an incident.
He said that he had given a picture of the difficulties that security forces face in defending Malaysia’s sovereignty due to the failure of the previous Sabah government to address the issue of illegal immigrants.
“The video that went viral should have been played in its entirety,” he said in a statement.
“I vehemently condemn the dirty tactics of certain parties that clearly want to degrade Warisan’s image.
“If the issue of illegal immigrants had been the priority of the previous government, the incident in Kampung Tanduo (in Lahad Datu) would not have happened.
“I want to emphasize that I had never insulted our security forces that were deployed during the intrusion, as our opponents, in particular the parties on the peninsula, have distorted.”
Mohamaddin, who is disputing Segama’s seat, also apologized to members of the security forces if the video caused harm.
In a 33-minute campaign speech posted on his Facebook, Mohamaddin claimed that security forces had shelled oil palm trees and houses, and that troops on the ground had entered fighting “chickens and dogs.”
“When the elections (2013 general elections) ended, there was no more war,” he said, adding that during his previous term as an assemblyman, he had not encountered any Filipino or armed pirates who wanted to declare war or take control. Sabah.
He said that many people died in the Lahad Datu intrusion due to the “sandiwara” (farce).
His comments have drawn criticism, with Sabah Umno leader Abdul Rahman Dahlan urging Warisan Chairman Shafie Apdal to ask Mohamaddin to apologize for his statement.
Parti Cinta Sabah president Anifah Aman also criticized the former minister for his comments, saying it was an insult to the security forces and his loved ones.
“Warisan should be ashamed of these disgusting comments. People should reject Warisan leaders like these, ”he said.
On February 11, 2013, some 200 Sulu militants entered Sabah waters and landed in Lahad Datu, sparking a clash with Malaysian security forces, which resulted in the deaths of 56 militants, 10 security officers from Malaysia and six civilians.
The surviving militants were captured and the conflict was declared over on April 10, 2013.
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