Hishammuddin: No politics please on Sabah's security
Published on: Friday, April 28, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the Federal Government's contribution towards Sabah's security should be appreciated."Do not play politics when it comes to security, peace and harmony in Sabah."We in the Defence Ministry and armed forces have been conducting a variety of initiatives and have put a lot of our assets in Sabah just to make sure there is no denying the dignity of Sabah's position in Malaysia. ADVERTISEMENT "Therefore, irresponsible words which I heard by certain quarters, words which do not stand on real facts and reality…chanting Sabah for Sabahans, they do not recognise and neither do they appreciate the Federal government's contribution to Sabah," he said. Hishammuddin was speaking after launching the Eastern and Western Fleet base in conjunction with the Royal Malaysian Navy's 83rd anniversary held at the Sepanggar Naval Base here, on Thursday.Also present was Navy Chief Admiral Tan Sri Tan Sri Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin, among others. "The list of assets we have set in Sabah, what our plans are for the security of Sabah, all this has nothing to do with politics. We consider Sabah as part of Malaysia and we will defend every inch of Sabah by any power available to us," said Hishammuddin, who is also Special Functions Minister. ADVERTISEMENT "We have a list of what has been placed in the army, in the navy and the air force, let the people of Sabah judge whether this can be contributed equally by the parties who claim that the Federal Government is not fair to Sabah. "Actually, as a Defence Minister who comes from Johor, I sometimes find it ironic that Sabah has so much more than what we provide to Johor. But I know that Sabah and Johor are under Malaysia and that the security threats faced in Sabah need to be given priority attention.
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"For example, the starstreak (a ground-based anti-air missile and launcher), which I only got to see for the first time here in Sepanggar, despite having financial constraints we made sure we have it in Sabah to ensure the State is safe…I am relived because it (starstreak) is not easy to obtain," he said. "So to those who point fingers at us, who want to cause those in Sabah and Sarawak to hate the peninsula, those who practice politics of hate to divide us … I want to remind our leaders in Sabah not to follow their rhythm. "Just based on the facts, what we have been doing for Sabah, it can be measured with money, but what about lives…how do we value lives with money? "During the Lahad Datu intrusion … those who were killed were from the peninsula, our policemen and soldiers … how many of those who chant the 'Sabah for Sabahans' were there to face the aggression in Lahad Datu…none. "I hope this will be the start for the Defence Ministry, the army, navy and air force, to deliver facts to the people of Sabah so that they are not obscured by narrow issues which are based on politics which don't stand on facts and reality," he said. Meanwhile, a total of 41 officers and 280 soldiers from 10 platoons took part in the parade which started at 7am. The event also saw naval personnel wearing the newly designed navy operations uniform for the first time and the launching of the Eastern and Western Fleet base as well as the K3M application software for the Rakan Maritime. "We will improve in terms of capabilities, manpower and also assets, but it will be implemented in stages," said Ahmad.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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"We can see, the existing vessels we have anchored in front of us, which also directly ensure that we provide the best response to ensure the safety of Sabah and Sarawak's waters."However, the responsibility should be shared by everyone, people can play a role by being our eyes and ears so that information can be delivered quickly and accurately," he said. - Sherell Ann Jeffrey