Shafie’s Alleged Acquaintance With Sulu Commander Contradicted With His “Sabah for Sabahans”?

Sabah opposition party says photo of Shafie with Sulu commander taken at dinner hosted by ex-premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) has hit out at an attempt to smear its president Shafie Apdal by linking him to the commander of the Sulu militant band which invaded Lahad Datu on Sabah’s east coast in 2013.

The issue surfaced recently after a Sabah Umno leader, Ainal Fattah, challenged Shafie to explain a photo of himself alongside Agbimuddin Kiram who led 235 armed militants to invade Sabah in February 2013 under the instruction of then self-proclaimed Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III. 

The militants fought with Malaysian forces in skirmishes lasting over a month which resulted in the death of 10 Malaysian security forces, 56 militants and six civilians. 

 

However in a Facebook post today, Warisan deputy president Darell Leiking said the photo was taken during a dinner hosted by ex-premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. 

He also posted a photo of Najib posing with Agbimuddin, which had in the past been circulated online, and challenged Najib to explain the photo. 

“If Shafie had any links to the Sulu militants or their leaders, why hasn’t he been investigated before?

 “Why are there no questions asked of Abdullah or (Prime Minister) Najib Razak? Why aren’t they investigated too? Why isn’t the federal government’s stand on ties with the Sulu sultans questioned?” Leiking said. 

Leiking, who is the Penampang MP, also questioned why the bodies of the dead militants were buried in Sabah.

 “Why wasn’t there any mutual legal assistance request to try the Kiram family in the Philippines and why hasn’t the Philippines dropped its claim over Sabah?” 

 Previously, Leiking claimed that Agbimuddin had Malaysian citizenship and had served as an assistant district officer in Kudat, Sabah. 

Then-home minister Hishammuddin Hussein said he was unable to confirm if Agbimuddin possessed Malaysian citizenship. 

Sabah newspaper Daily Express recently reported that Ainal, who is the Bum-Bum Island Umno branch chief, called on Shafie to explain if the photo of him and Agbimuddin was fake. 

Ainal said Shafie’s alleged acquaintance with the Sulu commander contradicted with his “Sabah for Sabahans” political battle cry.

Source: FMT, Agensy