Nurul Izzah’s meeting with Kiram a betrayal — Ismail
KUALA LUMPUR: Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob told the High Court here yesterday that he regarded the action by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vicepresident Nurul Izzah Anwar in meeting Jacel Kiram, who is the daughter of Jamalul Kiram III, as a betrayal to the country.
Ismail Sabri, 57, said his view was such as Nurul Izzah, who is Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament, met a person with links to a group which had declared war on Malaysia and also the intrusion case in Lahad Datu, Sabah, in 2013.
The Bera Member of Parliament said the incident in Lahad Datu had undermined public order and security in the country and also claimed the lives of several security personnel.
“I’m also of the opinion that the act by Nurul Izzah could be taken action under the Penal Code and the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015,” he said.
Ismail Sabri was reading his witness statement during hearing of a defamation suit filed by Nurul Izzah against him and former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar over their remarks on her meeting with Jacel Kiram.
During cross-examination by lawyer R. Sivarasa, representing Nurul Izzah, Ismail Sabri, who was named the second defendant, said he made the statement (which Nurul Izzah claimed was defamatory) when he attended a mass circumcision event organised by the Umno Youth at Dewan Rakan Muda Bera, Pahang, on Nov 22, 2015.
“I issued the statement after being questioned by journalists on a photograph of a meeting between Nurul Izzah and Jacel Kiram which was uploaded on a Facebook account by the daughter of the former Sulu terrorist group leader on Nov 9, 2015,” he said.
Ismail Sabri said Nurul Izzah’s action in meeting Jacel Kiram was a current issue and much-talk about topic because it reminded the people of the intrusion in Sabah that was master-minded by an individual who claimed to be the Sultan of Sulu, who is also Jacel Kiram’s father, Jamalul Kiram III.
“As a result of Nurul Izzah’s action, various quarters expressed their opinions and perceptions and I was one of those who were asked to give my opinion on the matter,” he said.
Ismail Sabri also told the court that the statement he made was in tandem with his role and responsibility as a minister and country leader who is responsible for matters concerning the country’s interests.
“As a minister, member of Parliament and an elected representative, I am responsible to explain to the people the implication of Nurul Izzah’s meeting with Jacel kiram because the instrusion in Lahad Datu is a national issue that has effects and impact on the people and hurt the feelings of the Sabah people and the family members of the security members who were killed,”’ he added.
To another question by Sivarasa, Ismail Sabri denied that he accused Nurul Izzah of being a traitor.
“I did not mention or declare her (Nurul Izzah) as a traitor, but it (statement) was my opinion on her action. An accusation and an opinion are two different things,” he said.
Ismail Sabri also told the court that he was not aware of two statements uploaded by Nurul Izzah on her Facebook to clarify her meeting with Jacel Kiram.
“If she (Nurul Izzah) is honest, she should have called for a press conference to explain the matter and not uploaded her statements on her Facebook,” he said.
Ismail Sabri was the last witness to testify in the hearing of the suit which began last Aug 11.
Judicial Commissioner Datin Faizah Jamaludin set Nov 16 for case management after senior federal counsel Zureen Elina Mohd Dom, representing Ismail Sabri, told the court that there was no more witness and requested the case to be closed.
Nurul Izzah filed the suit on Nov 26, 2015, claiming that Khalid had issued defamatory statements on her at a media conference at the Bukit Aman police headquarters on Nov 22, 2015.
In the statement of claim, she stated that the slanderous remarks were issued a few days after the picture of her and Jacel Kiram appeared.
She further claimed that on the same day (Nov 22, 2015), Ismail Sabri also made similar remarks about her at a press conference during a function in his Bera parliamentary constituency. Bernama