The culture of seeking revenge among the community in southern Philippines for the past several hundred years may spark a recurrence of the bloody tragedy in Lahad Datu in future, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Therefore, he said, Malaysia's security forces would not compromise on the issue of national security and the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) along the 1,400km coastline of East Sabah was the best move to deter the recurrence of the tragedy.
"I am putting my full confidence on our armed forces and police in ensuring the tragedy is not repeated despite fear that it may take place again,".
The Malaysian security forces have to date shot 56 terrorists. The tragedy also took the lives of 10 members of the security forces.
Ahmad Zahid said the culture of revenge among the communities in the southern Philippines was still in practice today, such as the torching of houses which was a common occurrence and therefore it was not imposssible that the incident in Lahad Datu might cause the Sulu terrorists to seek revenge on Malaysia in future.
Asked on the rationale of Malaysia cooperating with the Philippines on military actions in southern Philippines to remove the threat at its source, he said military action was not the solution to the problem.
"Firstly, if we were to enter the Philippines, we would not be respecting the sovereignty of the Philippines and vice versa in Malaysia. The sovereignty of both countries must be respected," he said.
Ahmad Zahid also recorded his appreciation to the Philippines for working closely with Malaysia to resolve the tragedy and prevent the incident from taking place again by blocking Sulu terrorists from entering Malaysia.
On suggestions by some Malaysians that the terrorist head Jamalul Kiram be extradited to Malaysia to be charged in court, he said in the spirit of Asean solidarity, Malaysia could request the Philippines to do so.
"We have sent Nur Misuari (Moro National Liberation Front leader) back to the Philippines and in the spirit of Asean, if Jamalul Kiram could be detained, he could be extradited to Malaysia.
"Jamalul Kiram is a Filipino but the crime took place in Malaysia and in the spirit of Asean, we could ask for him to be tried in Malaysia. But it will not be under the jurisdiction of the Defence Ministry but the Attorney-General's Chambers," he said.
He said there were grounds for the proposal by Umno Youth to charge Jamalul Kiram and his followers for waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
To date, 156 people have been detained for being in the red zone of the operations while 97 individuals were held for being involved with terrorists under the Security Offences Act (Special Measures) 2012 read together with Section 130(c) of the Penal Code.
Astro Awani
Thu Mar 14 2013
Badminton Terbuka Thailand: Zii Jia mara ke suku akhir
Perseorangan lelaki negara, Lee Zii Jia menepati ramalan apabila menempah slot suku akhir Terbuka Thailand 2024.
Siapkan segera trek BMX Bukit Siol - Abdul Karim
Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah meminta kontraktor bagi projek trek BMX Bukit SIol untuk segera menyiaokannya bagi memudahkan atlet Sarawak berlatih bagi menghadapi SUKMA 2024.
KPM sambut baik Sarawak rangka ujian ganti UPSR
KPM sambut baik hasrat kerajaan negeri Sarawak yang bercadang merangka sistem penilaian sendiri bagi menggantikan Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) untuk murid Tahun Enam di semua sekolah di negeri itu.
Kastam Sarawak rampas rokok, minuman keras RM2.41 juta di Bintulu
Jabatan Kastam Diraja Malaysia (JKDM) Sarawak merampas minuman keras yang disyaki tidak berkastam dianggarkan bernilai RM2,414,784.30 termasuk duti dan cukai di Bintulu pada Jumaat lalu.
Jangan percaya orang tak dikenali - Flovia Ng
Kementerian Pembangunan Masyarakat dan Kesejahteraan Rakyat Sabah memberi peringatan kepada remaja khususnya kanak-kanak bawah umur agar tidak percaya kepada mana-mana pihak yang tidak dikenali. Ia susulan tiga remaja di Ranau, bertindak tidak balik ke rumah kerana mahu ke Sandakan untuk mencari kerja bagi membeli telefon pintar.
Sektor Pontianak-Kuching perlu dihidupkan kembali
Menteri Pelancongan, Industri Kreatif dan Seni Persembahan Sarawak Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah
Enam lagi lebuh raya setuju laksana pembayaran tol terbuka
Enam lagi lebuh raya bersetuju melaksanakan Sistem Kutipan Tol Secara Pembayaran Terbuka (SPT) bermula September ini, kata Menteri Kerja Raya Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
Penumpang keluar masuk di LTAK melebihi kapasiti
Menteri Pelancongan, Industri Kreatif dan Seni Persembahan Sarawak Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah menyambut baik hasrat Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg agar sebuah lapangan terbang antarabangsa baharu didirikan di wilayah itu
Kami janji bawa balik Piala FA ke Old Trafford - Erik ten Hag
Manchester United akan beri segalanya di Final Piala FA menentang Manchester City pada 25 Mei ini.
Isu kenaikan gaji penjawat awam antara dibincang
Isu kenaikan gaji penjawat awam seperti diumumkan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menjadi antara perkara dibincangkan dalam pertemuan antara Ketua Menteri Sabah, Datuk Seri Hajiji dan Presiden Cuepacs, Datuk Adnan.
KKDW akan manfaat dana RM11 bilion untuk teliti kesan mobiliti sosial
Perpindahan penduduk ke kawasan berbeza mempunyai kesan sosialnya tersendiri.
Hala tuju kerjasama UMNO akan dibincang dalam MT parti - Ahmad Zahid
Ahmad Zahid berkata, ini soal penting dan tidak sesuai untuk bercakap atau memutuskannya tanpa persetujuan bersama.
Zahid nafi serah dokumen mahkamah kepada Tun M
Presiden UMNO, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi menyangkal dakwaan kononnya beliau menyerahkan dokumen mahkamah kepada bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad semasa pertemuan Isnin, 23 Mac lal
Mahkamah Rayuan kekalkan pembebasan doktor sebabkan kematian menantu Zahid
Mahkamah Rayuan mengekalkan pembebasan pakar obstetrik dan ginekologi, Dr Ting Teck Chin atas pertuduhan menyebabkan kematian Datuk Syed Alman Zain Syed Alwi.
Kemenangan BN di Kimanis bukti kesinambungan kepercayaan pengundi - Zahid
Kemenangan calon Barisan Nasional (BN) Datuk Mohamad Alamin adalah kesinambungan kepercayaan pengundi di parlimen itu terhadap parti ini.
UMNO mahu tawan semula Sabah - Zahid Hamidi
UMNO akan membuat tawaran baharu dengan mana-mana parti yang mahu bekerjasama sebagai persiapan menawan semula negeri Sabah.
Zahid didakwa atas pertuduhan rasuah pagi ini
Zahid akan didakwa mengikut Akta Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) 2009 dan Kanun Keseksaan.
'You're still my president' - KJ doa kesejahteraan Zahid
Khairy menerusi perkongsian di Instagram berkata, "I know Im hard on you, but youre still my President, sir."
PAU2017: Saya tidak campur tangan soal usul jawatan presiden, timbalan presiden - PM Najib
Presiden UMNO, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak langsung tidak campur tangan dalam soal usul supaya jawatan Presiden dan Timbalan Presiden tidak dipertandingkan.
Anggota Rela disogok diminta lapor SPRM - TPM
Tiga anggota Rela diminta membuat laporan kepada SPRM selepas didakwa disogok oleh lelaki bergelar Datuk Seri.