KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed today dismissed claims that his warning of another possible incursion in east Sabah was politically motivated.
During the winding up of debate for the 2016 Budget at committee stage in Dewan Rakyat, he said his statement made on Nov 28 was made to ensure that the locals were aware of the latest situation.
"However, I didn't say they (the Sulu forces in southern Philippines responsible for the Lahad Datu incursion in 2013) have landed in Malaysia. The ministry is currently taking proactive measures so that they will not be able to invade like before.
"Among the measures taken by the government include improvements of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), more sea patrols, cooperation with the Philippines and engagement with locals,” he said.
"Why was my statement, which is a warning of (a possible) threat a political spin? They (terrorists) would want to take revenge as not only our men fell during the stand-off, but theirs as well. Our men were killed in a cruel manner," he said.
Datuk Marcus Mojigoh (BN-Putatan) in his interjection said as a Sabahan, his heart was still aching when he learned that PKR vice president Nurul Izzah Anwar and Tian Chua (PKR-Batu) had met with a family member of the terrorist which invaded Lahad Datu.
"Can we question the real motive behind the meeting and whether they are being "barua" or middle men for the terrorist group who might be planning to invade Sabah again?," he asked.
As several members protested the use of word 'barua', Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia advised Marcus not to use such words but clarified that in Sabah, the word barua means orang tengah (middle man).
Jazlan had earlier said he would look into concerns raised by several members on the stateless children who were not able to obtain identification cards from National Registration Department due to their parents' marriage status.
Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj (PSM-Sungai Siput) said there are certain provisions in the Federal Constitution for the status of children born in Malaysia, but the source of the problem lies in the conditions imposed by the department on the marriage status of the child's parents.