30-Day Countdown to 13GE – Open Letter to Najib proposing Cabinet decision tomorrow to convene special Parliamentary session within a week on Sabah Sulu crisis

I am today issuing this Open Letter to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak:

“YAB Datuk Seri Najib Razak,
Prime Minister,
Malaysia.

YAB Datuk Seri,

Cabinet decision tomorrow to convene special Parliamentary session within a week on Sabah Sulu crisis to condemn cruel, inhuman and barbaric killing of Malaysian policemen by Sulu terrorists and call to Philippines Government to officially drop all claims to Sabah
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I am still reeling from shock, horror and revulsion from the Chinese media reports yesterday about the cruel, inhuman and barbaric killings of Malaysian policemen by Sulu terrorists in the water village, Kampung Simunul in Semporna on March 2 as revealed by the Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in Ipoh on Sunday – sadistic and savage atrocities like cutting off of fingers, ripping of eyes and beheading when our fallen heroes in Semporna were still alive.

To my knowledge, this is the first time there is official confirmation of such unspeakable atrocities committed by the Sulu terrorists against members of our security forces in Semporna although there had been rumours and later confirmation of uncivilized mutilation and beheading of corpses .

I am addressing this Open Letter to you to urge the Cabinet tomorrow to take an decision of great national importance – to convene a special session of Parliament as the eight fallen national heroes from the police forces in Lahad Datu and Semporna, as well as all the security forces personnel who had suffered injury in the Sabah Sulu crisis, deserve no less than a fulsome tribute and recognition from all Ministers and Parliamentarians, regardless of political party, race, religion or region, in a special Parliamentary session.

On 12th January last year, a special Parliamentary session was convened where all MPs condemned in unison the Israeli atrocities on Palestinians in the Gaza.

YAB Prime Minister’s Cabinet and the 12th Parliament will be seriously remiss in their duties if they are not equally prepared to convene a special Parliamentary session to condemn the atrocities on the Malaysian security forces by Sulu terrorists in Lahad Datu and Semporna.

Last Monday, Pakatan Rakyat leaders, namely Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Datuk Seri Hadi Awang and myself in a joint statement on behalf of PKR, PAS and DAP had called for an emergency meeting of Parliament over the Sabah Sulu crisis.

Although later the day, I had asked the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, when we appeared at the same panel at an international conference, to advise the Prime Minister on the issue as he is also Minister in charge of parliamentary affairs, it is most regrettable that not a single Minister thought the subject important enough to be raised in the Cabinet last Wednesday.

I hope the Ministers will not be equally remiss at the Cabinet tomorrow tomorrow in refusing to discuss and decide on a special Parliamentary session on the Sabah Sulu crisis, or they should explain to the people, especially Sabahans and the security forces who have to bear the brunt of the dastardly and barbaric acts of the Sulu terrorists, why the Cabinet does not think the issue important enough to deserve the convening of a special meeting of Parliament.

The special Parliamentary session should be convened within a week, unless YAB proposes to dissolve Parliament for the holding of the 13th General Elections before 19th March 2013.

The special Parliamentary meeting should adopt an unanimous resolution on the Sabah Sulu crisis on at least six points, viz:

• Give full support to the security forces to take all necessary measures to protect the national sovereignty and the security of the people of Sabah and security personnel ;

• Pay tribute to the eight fallen heroes from the police forces in the shoot-outs with Sulu terrorists in Lahad Datu and Semporna;

• Set up a special foundation to look after the welfare of their surviving family and children, including life-long education to university level for the children of the fallen heroes;

• Condemn in the strongest possible terms the atrocities and the cruel, inhuman, uncivilized and barbaric killing of the fallen heroes in Semporna by Sulu terrorists and to invoke national and international censure of such bestial conduct to bring to justice the inhuman killers;

• Resolve an immediate halt of the annual “cession payment” of RM5,300 to the self-proclaimed heir of the Sulu Sultanate; and

• Call on Philippines Government to demonstrate ASEAN spirit and solidarity by officially dropping all claims to Sabah.

Thank you.
Yours truly,

Lim Kit Siang
(DAP Parliamentary Leader/MP Ipoh Timor)”