Nurul to give statement tomorrow over meeting with Jacel

Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar is to give a statement to the police tomorrow on her meeting with Jacel H Kiram, daughter of the late leader of the Sulu terrorist group that attacked Sabah in 2013, said inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar.

He said Nurul Izzah had to explain the meeting as Jacel was a spokesperson of the late leader of the Sulu terrorist group, Jamalul Kiram III, during the Lahad Datu incident two years ago.

“We have contacted her (Nurul Izzah) and her lawyer and she has agreed to give the statement on Friday. We have to know why she was there.

“This is because I have to answer to the families of the security forces who were killed during the attack on Lahad Datu,” he said.

He spoke at a press conference after presenting the Pingat Kedaulatan Negara medal to 264 police officers and personnel who were involved in the ‘Ops Daulat’ in Lahad Datu, Sabah, at the General Operations Force Camp in Ipoh today.

Also present was Perak Chief Police Officer Osman Salleh.

Khalid said the police would also call up PKR vice-president Tian Chua to give a statement on the meeting between Nurul Izzah and Jacel as he is alleged to have arranged it.

“We also know that Tian Chua was present when Nurul Izzah met Jacel. We will call him up soon,” he said.

Nurul Izzah, who is a PKR vice-president, admitted she met Jacel on Nov 9 when she was in the Philippines with Tian Chua as part of a PKR delegation to meet various quarters in that country.

She reportedly issued an apology after photographs of her meeting Jacel in the Philippines on Nov 9 went viral on Facebook, resulting in her being severely criticised.

Yesterday, Tian Chua denied he had masterminded the meeting.

In February 2013, a group of terrorists from the southern Philippines entered Sabah and engaged in gun battles with the security forces.

Commenting on Nurul Izzah’s decision to file a suit against Khalid and Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob for allegedly calling her a traitor to the country, Khalid said it was Nurul Izzah’s right to sue.

“She can sue, but investigations (on the meeting) will continue,” he said.

Nurul Izzah filed the suit at the Civil High Court registry through Messrs Daim & Gamany, naming Khalid and Ismail Sabri as the first and second defendants.

- Bernama