He cited the recent floods in Penang as an example where some people tried to deny the contributions and hard work of members of security forces apparently to advance their political agenda.
“What (Umno Permatang Pauh division chief) Datuk Zaidi (Said), the Penang delegate, said was true that our forces began helping the flood victims long before the video planned by Lim Guan Eng was distributed.
“The Lahad Datu incident was dismissed as a drama, although members of our security forces lost their lives, our submarines were made fun of and voters at our military base were questioned,” he said when winding up the debate on points raised on his ministry at the Umno general assembly at PWTC today.
Hishammuddin said the armed forces would be called in whenever a disaster or riot occurred although some groups were quick to criticise them.
“Defending the country’s sovereignty does not depend only on the quality and quantity of our assets and technology but more importantly on the willingness of our forces to risk their lives and limbs,” he said.
On the threat of the Islamic State (IS) terror group which Umno president Najib Razak touched on in his opening speech at the assembly, Hishammuddin said the IS had grown from a regional menace into a worldwide scourge.
IS began in the Middle East but its flag now flew in Marawi, in the Philippines, he added.
On the security risks that might occur following American President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Hishammuddin said the armed forces were prepared for any eventualities.