'Malaysians should be grateful security forces able to handle Lahad Datu issue wisely'

KOTA KINABALU- Malaysians should be grateful that the security forces, including the police, are still able to handle wisely the intrusion by a group of Filipinos in Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu, which had been ongoing since Feb 12.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the important thing now was that the matter could be resolved amicably and based on regulations, without any bloodshed.

"Well, it (the Lahad Datu incident) has bearings in the sense that whatever happens in the state, there will be an impact.

"But, what we are grateful with is that the matter is being tackled wisely by our security forces and the police, and this has been explained by the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) when he was here and in a statement by (Home Minister) Datuk Seri

Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, and also the Inspector-General of Police (Tan Sri Ismail Omar)," he told reporters after an election briefing by the Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) divisional coordinating chairmen at the Umno Building here today.

Muhyiddin said this when asked for his comment on the latest development in the Lahad Datu intrusion issue.

He said the Malaysian government would do the best possible to resolve the issue.

"If we can do that, God willing, the people in Sabah, particularly, will feel that security is always maintained.

"They can see the leadership, at the state and federal levels, working hard to resolve the sensitive issue.

"This means the people know we can manage anything that crops up," he said, adding that the government had and would continue to give priority to issues on the security of the people of Sabah.

-- BERNAMA