Commenting on a statement by Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein yesterday that the Lahad Datu operation showed the government’s ability to protect the state and its people, Patriot president Brigadier-General (Rtd) Mohamed Arshad Raji said many veterans and senior officers still in service considered it an ignominious failure.
“In the first place, our intelligence service failed to detect the 200-odd heavily armed Sulu militants prior to their intrusion.
“As it was a foreign-armed incursion, without doubt, the first order should have been shoot to kill and not to negotiate. Even if for some reason there was a need to negotiate, prior to negotiation our security forces should have moved in to gain tactical ground and advantage.
“It was only after two weeks of unsuccessful negotiation that the security forces were ordered in to engage the Sulu militants. Patriot feels sad that we had to lose 10 brave officers and men during the protracted engagement with the militants which lasted five weeks,” Arshad said in a statement.
Yesterday, Hishammuddin had called the Lahad Datu intrusion proof that the government was able to protect the state and the people from the terrorists despite being it being labelled an Umno drama.
Hishammuddin, who had been commenting on Pakatan Harapan’s election manifesto, also urged the people to be rational in evaluating each pledge so as not to be tricked into believing unfulfilled promises.
Patriot said it had no doubt that the entire episode would have ended within a few days with minimum casualties to the armed forces if command of the Lahad Datu operation had been given to the top general, the ground commander.
“The problem was with ministers and civilians trying to behave as commanders (in positions) that they foolishly assumed,” Arshad said.
He said Patriot’s criticism was not personal but was done in good faith with the intention to help put things right and build a better nation.
Patriot called for a think tank comprising all relevant agencies to be established to come out with a blueprint for defending Sabah and the surrounding region.
It also agreed on the need to beef up security forces in Sabah given the state’s porous maritime boundary.