Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has urged embattled Prime Minister Najib Razak to call for an emergency Parliamentary roundtable over the Lahad Datu intrusions in Sabah that have alarmed the nation as the death toll climbed and fears of prolonged hostilities with armed Filipino groups spread.
Anwar also took Najib to task for politicizing the matter, urging the Malaysian prime minister to focus his efforts on resolving the violence rather than try to pin the blame on the Opposition.
"We are disappointed with the weak leadership shown by Dato Seri Najib Razak, the Home Minister and Defense Minister, whose responsibility is to keep Malaysia's security intact," Anwar said at a joint press conference with DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and PAS secretary-general Mustaffa Ali on Monday.
"The Sabah intrusion is now into its fourth week (Day 23) and the leadership of Dato Seri Najib Razak, the Home Minister and the Defense Minister appear not to have a clear plan to overcome the violation of our sovereign territory. Instead, the prime minister is irresponsibly trying to avert the eyes of the people from his weak leadership."
Let the security forces do their job without political interference
The PR trio called on Malaysians to rally behind the country's security forces, urging the Najib administration to show greater political will and less interference by allowing the military as well as the police to resolve the matter.
They also slammed the Najib administration for failing to provide clear and transparent information to people, which they said had caused the people to worry and even panic over the incident.
"Pakatan Rakyat calls on all Malaysians to show unreserved support to our security forces, both the police and the military. And pray that they remain safe while defending our nation and its people from harm," said Anwar.
"While we are convinced that national security transcends political divides and all citizens must support the security forces' efforts, it does not abrogate the federal leadership for its lax treatment of the whole affair. The leadership has failed to pass accurate information quickly so that the public is aware of what is happening, an error which has caused rumor-mongering to be rife."
Stop fabricating news to deflect attention
DAP's Kit Siang reiterated Anwar's call to all political parties for 'time-out' to let the military handle the issue.
He slammed the Umno-BN coalition for playing up the issue with false news, pointing out that apart from Anwar, he and Lim Guan Eng - the DAP sec-gen and Penang Chief Minister - had been accused of gloating over the deaths of police personnel killed in the sudden eruption of violence on March 1.
"The feedback from the security forces personnel when I was there (in Lahad Datu days before the eruption of violence) was that they were able to handle the matter but the political will from above was weak," Kit Siang said.
The Pakatan Rakyat top leadership council consisting of Anwar, Kit Siang and PAS president Hadi Awang expressed support for Anwar, whom the Umno media had accused of causing and escalating the Sabah crisis.
"We understand that Dato Seri Najib Razak has ordered the Leader of the Opposition to be investigated in relations to the armed intrusions in Sabah. We would like to state categorically that Dato Seri Anwar is in no way involved," the PR said in a joint statement released to the press.
"We strongly demand Dato Seri Najib to stop finger-pointing at others especially Pakatan Rakyat and never to betray the trust of the Malaysian people."
Meeting to discuss best possible solutions with least loss of lives
Anwar and his PR colleagues also called for a meeting with Najib, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Defense Minister Zahid Hamid to discuss ways for a speedy conclusion with the least loss of lives.
"Pakatan urges for an immediate meeting between the leadership of our coalition and the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and Defense Minister, followed by a special sitting of Parliament to discuss the intrusion," said Anwar.
"It is time that the PM realizes that his priority is to defend Malaysia, its people and the warriors on the front line."
MORE TO COME
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.