KOTA KINABALU: More than 200 people gathered outside the Sabah State Assembly, calling for the banning of Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament Nurul Izzah Anwar from entering Sabah.
This was following photos that surfaced showing Nurul posing with so-called 'Sulu princess' Jacel Kiram.
Those involved included supporters of BN and PKR, who were seen holding placards showing photos of Nurul and Jacel as well as mugshots of eight police personnel killed in Lahad Datu and Semporna attack in 2013.
They also voiced out their dissatisfaction against Batu MP Tian Chua, whom Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said to have arranged the meeting between the duo in Manila, Philippines.
Representing the group, Sabah Pro-BN chairman Zulkarnain Mahdar told reporters their presence at the State Assembly was to convey message to the DUN Speaker so their concern would be brought up.
"It is our hope that the proposal to ban Nurul from entering Sabah is approved because her action has caused anger among the people of Sabah.
"We understand that she has apologised but her reason for not recognising who Jacel was is unacceptable.
"How can she not know Jacel when she (Jacel) has countless time become the spokesperson of her father, the self-proclaimed Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram?
The Kiram family was notorious for their involvement in the 2013 Lahad Datu intrusion.
Being Malaysian and people representative, Zulkarnain said Nurul should have voiced out to Jacel that their (Sulu fighters) action (in Lahad Datu intrusion) was inhumane and against religious teaching.
In Feb 2013, over 200 fighters under the ruler of Jacel's father, Jamalul, sneaked into Kampung Tanduo near Lahad Datu to stake claim over Sabah.
The incident saw 10 Malaysian security forces killed, including eight policemen who were brutally killed in Kampung Simunul, Semporna attack following the first clash in Tanduo.
Following her father's death in October 2013, Jacel had said they would continue fighting for Filipino people, including to reclaim Sabah.
Zulkarnain said Nurul was insensitive as the people of Sabah, especially families of victims are still traumatised by the event.
"We are not being 'kurang ajar' (disrespectful) to Nurul. Sabah people are very 'lemah-lembut' (well-mannered) but that doesn't mean she (Nurul) can step our heads.
"She should know that our security forces are still protecting Sabah from any intrusion and risking their life... and many of them come from the peninsular."