GEORGE TOWN, March 11- Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Tian Chua’s (Pic)attempt to politicise the intrusion in Lahad Datu, Sabah, did not give positive effects to the party and the opposition pact. Political analyst and senior lecturer of Universiti Sains Malaysia Assoc Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said the intrusion in Lahad Datu was beyond politics as it involved the issues of the country’s sovereignty and security.
“If the intrusion were manipulated as a political issue, it will show the immaturity of the leader. Tian Chua must understand that the roles of the security forces there are not only to protect the safety of the people in Lahad Datu, but also the safety of 28 million population of Malaysia.
“Some things can be politicised, some cannot. Tian Chua’s statement did not give him political mileage, there’s too many negative effects than the positive ones,” he said when contacted by Bernama here today.
Sivamurugan said this in response to Tian Chua’s statement posted in the PKR official news portal, KeadilanDaily, on March 1, alleging that the gun battle between the Malaysian security forces and armed intruders in Lahad Datu, Sabah,
was a conspiracy of Umno aimed at frightening the people.
Meanwhile, Penang Ex-Servicemen Association president Mohd Sabri Samad said legal action must be taken immediately against Tian Chua, who is the member of Parliament for Batu.
“Just like in the case where (PAS deputy president) Mat Sabu defamed the police personnel and their families who were killed while fighting the communists in the Bukit Kepong tragedy, immediate action must be taken against him.
“Similar action must also be taken against Tian Chua. He must be charged in court immediately. Don’t let this issue to be prolonged until the next general election. The government must take immediate action,” he said.
Mohd Sabri said political leaders should not politicising the issue of national security as it could affect the peace and stability in the country. He also rapped certain quarters for likening national security forces personnel as ‘Umno’s dogs’ and stressed that those personnel were deployed to protect and defend the country’s sovereignty and that they were not representing any political parties.
“We were trained to protect the people, not political parties,” he added.
BERNAMA
