Cops to call Shafie for statement

Police will be calling Par Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal for his statement following the la er’s alleged remarks in cri cizing the Rela members assigned to assist in the ESSZone.

KOTA KINABALU: Police will be calling Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal for his statement following the latter’s alleged remarks in criticizing the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) members assigned to assist in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone).

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Ramli Din said police had received 10 police reports lodged against Shafie following his alleged remarks.

“We have opened an investigation paper and we will call him (Shafie) soon to have his statement recorded,” said Ramli at a press conference at the monthly police gathering at the state police headquarters in Kepayan yesterday.

The Semporna member of parliament was accused of belittling Rela by questioning the federal government’s move to deploy its members to the ESSZone.

He was allegedly to have said in a video that has gone viral that Rela members were only meant to be used for helping to control traffic at government or private functions, and not suitable as security personnel against extremist groups.

Shafie, on Monday, however said that his speech was taken out of context and what he actually meant was for the government to safeguard the welfare of Rela members who were assigned to ESSZone.

He had said that what he actually meant when he mentioned about Rela members and their duties was that they were not trained to handle security threats at the borders.

According to Shafie, Rela members are not trained to use firearms and to handle explosive, under the Rela Act 2012, and were only equipped with a night stick.