Perikatan demands apology from Mohamaddin
KUALA LUMPUR: As campaigning for the 16th state election enters its final lap, Perikatan Nasional is demanding an apology from Datuk Mohammadin Ketapi for downplaying the 2013 invasion by Sulu militants in Kampung Tanduo.
Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was among those who slammed Mohamaddin for allegedly insulting Malaysian security forces and claiming the incident was a political ploy.
“It also besmirched their sacrifices, especially the 10 personnel who lost their lives during the 2013 incident.
“All security forces, especially the Armed Forces and the police, know the truth about the incident, and no one has questioned its validity,” he said in a statement yesterday.
The country just celebrated the 87th Armed Forces Day and Mohamaddin’s statement reflected his poor understanding of the sacrifices of the country’s security forces, he said.
“All parties should not touch on sensitive issues, especially on safety and sovereignty, that could spark anger and discomfort in others,” Ismail Sabri said.
A video of Mohamaddin delivering the controversial speech has gone viral.
Meanwhile, early voting for the state election will be held today and it will see 16,877 voters, comprising 7,487 Armed Forces and 9,390 police personnel casting their votes in 55 polling centres statewide from 8am.
In a separate statement, Perikatan information chief Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said Mohammadin’s remarks were not only unpatriotic, but also bordered on sedition and betrayal.
Meanwhile, Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi accused Mohamaddin of slander.
“As the Defence Minister at the time, I deny the slander regarding the Tanduo intrusion and confirm that Ops Daulat was the best action by the Barisan Nasional government in fending off the terrorist threat,” said Ahmad Zahid, who is also Umno president, in a Facebook posting yesterday.