KOTA KINABALU – Warisan will not back down from pressing for a debate on the Sulu Sultanate seizure of what is claimed to be Petronas foreign assets worth US$14.9 billion (RM66.3 billion) after their motions in the Dewan Rakyat and the Sabah state assembly were rejected today.
Its president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal will file a fresh motion to the house, citing the threats and terror that the state has been facing from Sulu terrorists throughout the years.
He maintained the voice of Sabahans should not be silenced, and this could only be done via the Sabah legislative assembly.
“The motions were brought to the assembly and Parliament not only to ensure the security and sovereignty of Malaysia are defended, but also to protect people’s lives.
“Not only the seizure of Petronas firms in Azerbaijan, which has now attracted attention, but also the bloody Tanduo incursion, where lives were taken and also the kidnappings and killing of Malaysians, the stealing of Malaysian assets.
“This is why we are bringing up the matter,” he told reporters during a press conference at the party headquarters in Inanam after attending the sitting today.
The Semporna MP also noted the half-hearted efforts by the federal administration when it comes to ensuring the security and safety of Sabah from foreign threats.
For instance, he claimed that the dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed on the east coast of Sabah following the Tanduo incursion in 2013 is still affecting tourism activities in the region.
Furthermore, Shafie alleged that 80% of the radars located on the east coast of Sabah to detect foreign incursions were not functioning due to poor maintenance.
He added that he had to give RM500,000 fuel money to the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) to conduct regular patrols during his time as Sabah chief minister and state finance minister.
“I recall there was a kidnapping near an oil rig in our waters at the time. How can Esscom conduct their patrol and keep the security in the region when they don’t even have money to buy fuel?” he said.
Shafie is expected to file his new motion to debate on the Sulu issue tomorrow morning.
Earlier today, Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis was given a two-day suspension after she caused an uproar in the Dewan Rakyat after her motion to debate on the seizure of the Petronas foreign subsidiaries was rejected.
Shafie also had his motion rejected in the Sabah assembly after he did not file the application according to a 24-hour regulation. – The Vibes, July 18, 2022
