THE National Association of Patriots has waded into the 2013 Lahad Datu intrusion controversy by claiming politicians made it difficult for the soldiers fighting the incursion.

Slamming the then Barisan Nasional leaders for behaving like generals, Patriot president Mohamed Arshad Raji said today these politicians must also explain claims that these intruders were actually upset over not being given the land they were originally promised.

“Patriot is of the view that the conduct of our security forces during the incident in February-March 2013 was magnanimous. They had followed orders.

“What bungled was the interference of ministers who behaved like generals. The real generals and ground commanders should have been given a free reign without political interference.

“Orders should have been to shoot-to-kill and no negotiation with armed foreign intruders, as we have mentioned in our previous statements,” Arshad said in a statement.

The latest allegation that land was promised to the so-called armed intruders and that they had come to claim the land was startling and needed clarification, he said.

The retired brigadier-general also questioned claims that the incident happened because certain factions of the Moro were unhappy with the peace deal and unfulfilled promises secured during peace talks in Kuala Lumpur and the agreement signed in Manila in October 2012.

“It is shocking if the allegation about land in Sabah being promised to the ‘foreign intruders’ is true.

“Key cabinet members at that time have a lot to answer. They were (then) prime minister Najib Razak, home minister Hishammuddin Hussein, defence minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and foreign affairs minister Anifah Aman.”

The 2013 incursion has become a talking point in the Sabah elections after Warisan leader and Lahad Datu MP Mohamaddin Ketapi said the Lahad Datu invasion by Sulu terrorists was a farce.

While he has since apologised for his remarks after facing criticism, and a police probe for public mischief, Patriot incurred the wrath of some from the ruling pact for not commenting on the matter.

Arshad today addressed this by reminding its critics that it had enough wisdom when “it comes to semantics and use of rhetorical language in politics, and more so during an election campaign.”

The barrage of criticism from political opponents should have taught the careless MP his lesson, he said.

In the last general election, Patriot had supported Pakatan Harapan in calling for an end of the BN rule. – September 24, 2020.