No reason to bar Special Branch from any events – Shafie

KOTA KINABALU: There is no reason for the Parti Warisan Sabahled government to bar the Special Branch from a ending the party's or ministers' activities, stressed Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

Shafie said allegations about the ma er were untrue and unnecessary.

"I have raised the issue in cabinet. There are no rules that have been made by the government to stop any parties from a ending the press conference done by the Chief Minister or YBs (people's reprensentatives).

"There is no standard or announcement procedure ruling. If there are those who have made that decision, it is also untrue.

"Special Branch can come anytime to listen to the our speeches, to what statement will be released.

"Why would we want to block them? You are also the public," Shafie said when met at the Lintasan Deasoka Ramadan Bazaar and Bubur Lambuk Distribution event at Kota Kinabalu City Hall compound here yesterday.

"If I forbid, what for? Tomorrow you will write in the newspapers and everybody will know. So, why would we want to cover up? What for? Unnecessary. It's not true. What we want to state here is that is not the government policy," he explained.

SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee recently alleged that there was a relationship breakdown between the Chief Minister and the Royal Malaysian Police.

He claimed that barring Special Branch officers from a ending the activities of Warisan and ministers is a serious cause for concern.