MEMBAKUT: Barisan Nasional (BN) has found that security is a common concern among Kimanis constituents and people in the rest of Malaysia, Umno former vice president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said today.
The Sembrong Member of Parliament said that the party was initially unsure about sentiments among locals here, as they are from Peninsular Malaysia.
“But having spent time here for a few days, we found that their aspirations and hopes for the future of their children are the same as ours in the peninsula.
“When we shared our experience on security issues, which is a concern in Peninsular Malaysia too (we found that) it is also being discussed and thought about by the locals here,” he told reporters at Pekan Membakut here, today.
The former federal defence minister was met during a walkabout as part of campaigning for BN candidate Datuk Mohamad Alamin in the ongoing Kimanis parliamentary by-election, which falls on Jan 18.
Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had yesterday held a press conference to clear the air on the Sabah Temporary Pass (PSS) issue.
He said that the PSS was aimed at creating an effective database to keep track of illegal immigrants in Sabah.
Hishammuddin, in a recent BN ceramah, expressed his concern that the PSS issue is closely linked to security and that the 2013 Lahad Datu intrusion should serve as a lesson to all not to take security matters, especially the temporary pass issue, lightly.
In responding to this, Muhyiddin had also said that the PSS has nothing to do with the Lahad Datu intrusion and the country's sovereignty.
But Hishammuddin clapped back.
“I see them (Pakatan Harapan and Parti Warisan Sabah) as desperate. They never give credit for any project started by BN, but when they implement (a policy) and it is not accepted by the people, they blame BN for starting it. They are not being consistent.
“(Muhyiddin) as a Home Minister… if he said that (the PSS) is not related to security, he is irresponsible,” said Hishammuddin, adding that threats exist based on the geographic location of Sabah.
Meanwhile, on whether he will continue to give his cooperation to the new Umno disciplinary board chairman following the resignation of Tan Sri Apandi Ali, he replied: “Bring it on.”
Last month, Apandi resigned from his post after claiming interference over a hearing against Hishammuddin, who is accused of having breached the party’s constitution and its code of ethics by persuading several Umno MPs to jump over to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).
“That depends on the leadership of Umno. I’ve always said that I have nothing to hide. If they want to investigate me, by all means, do it.
“For the members of the committee who want to investigate, that is not my problem. They have to get their act together, they have to decide whether to call me or not. I have no problem to face them,” he said.
He also denied that Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is protective of him, saying instead that the former Deputy Prime Minister is doing what is necessary to address the issue.