Warisan rebuts accusation

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan Sabah yesterday rebutted the accusation made by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman against the party’s secretary general, Loretto Padua Jr. over the latter’s statement relating to Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein’s answer on Manila’s claim to Sabah at the Dewan Rakyat sitting last week.

Warisan Information Bureau special task officer Crispine Kitingan claimed that Anifah had conveniently taken out of context the statement made by Loretto and insisted that Hishammuddin must explain it in detail to Sabahans relating to his answer in the Parliament.

“By his own admission and answer at the Dewan Rakyat, Hishammuddin had stated that the Manila claim is of lesser importance compared to the threat by Daesh/IS from Southern Phillipines; the Manila claim had been incorporated into the Republic’s constitution; and assured that the Federal Government is not being insensitive over the matter,” Crispine said.

Thus, it is only natural for Loretto to ask Hishammuddin how would the bilateral effort by Malaysia and Philippines in curbing the threat by Daesh/IS be jeopardized should Putrajaya pursue the effort to drop the claim at the same time, he said.

According to him, the question is important because China and the Philippines who have been at loggerheads many times over the South China Sea territorial dispute can still pursue a jointeffort to combat terrorism when China delivered weaponry and conduct joint training with the Philippines Army.

Therefore, Loretto’s question as to why can’t Malaysia do the same thing was pertinent, he said.

Anifah has reiterated that Sabah is a part of Malaysia and it does not recognize any claims on the state.

He said the statement by Loretto is misleading and provocative.

He stressed that the Foreign Ministry has repeated the government’s position that the Philippines claim is without basis.