‘We don’t want to scare public’

The government’s cautious release of information to the public was because it “needed to get a clear and accurate picture” of what was happening on the ground, says Najib Tun Razak.

KANGAR: The government has never tried to hide any information on the armed intrusion in Lahad Datu and nearby areas, said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

The prime minister said as usual, the government would take a little time to obtain complete information on any incident before disseminating that information.

“That is why we did not release the information (on the Lahad Datu incident)  earlier… we waited a little.

“We were not covering up and not wanting to tell the people. We needed to give a clear and accurate picture. We didn’t want to be hasty in releasing information.

“We don’t want to be accused of scaring the public. We wait for a clear picture.

“I have directed the Inspector-General of Police and Malaysian Armed Forces chief to make statements (when there was enough information,” he said after officially opening the main campus of Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) in Pauh, near here, today.

Najib said he believed the people understood this, and that the government was on the right side.

“We have all this while taken care of the sovereignty, peace and security in Sabah and elsewhere in the country,” he said.

On the incident where scores of residents beat up to death a man armed with an M16 and believed to be involved in the ambush that killed a police officer and four policemen in Kampung Sri Jaya, Siminul, Semporna last night, Najib said it showed the people’s anger with the group of armed intruders.

“They had acted on their own to save villagers who were held hostage. They showed extraordinary courage.

“They were opposed to the armed intrusion and acted without fear of losing their lives,” he said.

Najib, however, has not received information on the number of villagers who were held hostage.

-      Bernama