Tian Chua's statement highly irresponsible, says DPM

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today hit out at PKR vice-president Tian Chua for the Batu MP's statement which linked the Lahad Datu incident to Umno.  

He described the statement as highly irresponsible when all parties needed to understand that the Lahad Datu issue was a serious security matter. 

"We are leaving it to the security forces to take the appropriate measures. We are very sad that the episode took the lives of Malaysians. His statement is really out of place," he told reporters after attending a 1Malaysia People's Gathering in Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands. 

Yesterday, Tian Chua's statement in the KeadilanDaily portal alleged that the shootout in Kampung Tanduo was an Umno conspiracy to divert the attention of the people and frighten them. 

Muhyiddin said the mission by security forces in Lahad Datu was crucial from the national security aspect and hoped that the people would understand what happened. 

"The opposition can easily make wild allegations linking BN and Umno as part of    their plan is to launch a hate campaign against the government and Umno, and this is not the first time. 

"The episode is being used to sow anger and hatred but I am confident the people understand the situation and how it was handled, as stated by the prime minister yesterday," he said.  

Muhyiddin said matters of security should not be exploited for political gain. 

"Such a statement will only demoralise the security forces and it is the attitude of an irresponsible opposition," he said. 

He also expressed his condolences to the families of the two slain VAT 69 police commandos, Insp Zulkifli Mamat, 29, and Cpl Sabaruddin Daud, 46. 

"We are saddened by the tragic incident as it was unexpected, and security measures have been taken against the intruders," he said. 

On the arrival of the intruders to Lahad Datu, allegedly to meet opposition chief Anwar Ibrahim, Muhyiddin said this question of intelligence should be left to the authorities.  

"Whatever information we receive, we will verify with evidence," he said. 

‘Tian Chua is a ruthless person’

Meanwhile, Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Said said opposition leaders, including Tian Chua, were playing up the issue to blame the government which they alleged, had planned the entire episode.

"Tian Chua (right) is a ruthless person for making wild accusations without knowing the actual problem," he said.

In Alor Setar, International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Mukhriz Mahathir said the opposition should defend the country over the intrusion and not tarnish the nation, as it could deter foreign investments.

He said the foreign media would surely have reported Malaysia as being unstable and chaotic, following the incident.

In Kepala Batas, former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi viewed Tian Chua's statement as "nonsensical and baseless", and indicated the opposition pact had run out of ideas.

Abdullah said, Tian Chua, as a leader, should be more sensitive before issuing any statement because the incident at Lahad Datu was tragic, affecting every citizen in the country.

In Port Dickson, Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Tian Chua should ask himself and leaders above him what they were doing before the intrusion in Lahat Datu.

- Bernama