Nurul Izzah-Princess Jacel Kiram meeting questioned

The meeting between Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament Nurul Izzah Anwar and Princess Jacel H. Kiram, the daughter of Jamalul Kiram III has been questioned by several politicians in the country including the Opposition.

Some of them criticised the action of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president as hurting the feelings of the Sabahans especially those in Lahad Datu who suffered terrorist intrusion from southern Philippines in 2013, following the directive of Jamalul Kiram III.

Barisan Nasional (BN) MP for Putatan Datuk Dr Makin @ Marcus Mojigoh said he was worried the picture of the meeting could evoke various speculations by the people.

"As an MP in Malaysia, if she was caring for Malaysians and Sabah residents, we would welcome it. But if there is something deeper in the meeting, we want Nurul Izzah to explain and it should be brought to Parliament," he told Bernama.

The picture of the meeting with Nurul Izzah was uploaded by Jacel on Nov 9 in her Facebook account.

The MP for Libaran Datuk Juslie Ajirol wanted Nurul Izzah to come forward with explanations as the meeting was held when the country was facing various issues in Sabah recently.

For opposition MP, Wong Sze Phin @ Jimmy (DAP-Kota Kinabalu) and Wong Tien Fatt (DAP-Sandakan), they are of the opinion that even if the meeting is not an offence as anybody could take pictures with Nurul Izzah, she needs to provide clarifications.

The explanation on the purpose of the meeting should be provided soon, both MPs said.

"Hope there is nothing hidden. I don't know. I don't know yet, have to find out what actually is going on. There must be something. We also have to understand," said Sze Phin.

"I am not sure. Will ask her. So we have to see, even though Sabah has many problems, not all of them want to quarrel," said Tien Fatt.

Meanwhile Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein described the action of Nurul Izzah as being irresponsible.

"I see the action could jeopardise the country's security and harmony as the threat linked to the country's security sovereignty if it was true," he said.

Meanwhile, Nurul Izzah on Thursday admitted she met Jacel on Nov 9, when she was in the Phillipines together with Batu MP Tian Chua as part of the PKR delegation to meet with various stakeholders from the country.

She said the event was hosted by the council on Philippine Affairs and the Asian Institute for Democracy, the office of the City Mayor of Manila and the office of the Vice President of the Philippines.

"They decide on the list of leaders whom we were to meet. Among them were legitimate candidates contesting on Vice President Jejomar Binay’s ticket and many other leaders from civil society," she said in a statement Thursday.

Apart from Jacel, the other leaders they met included former Governor and Congressman of Batangas Hermilando Mandanas, Congress lady Regina Reyes, Congressman Silvestre Bello, Dean of Law Amading Valdez, former member of the Cabinet Secretary Romy Nery, and former Undersecretary of Justice Wencie Andanar and members of the staff of the Vice President of the Philippines and the Mayor of Manila.

"In the meeting I have stressed on our support for the Malaysian government's initiatives in peace negotiations in southern Philippines. I wish to reiterate my support in defending the sovereignty of Sabah as part of the

Malaysian federation," she said.

In February 2013, a group of armed intruders from the Philippines entered the country's waters in a boat and gathered in stages at Felda Sahabat 17, Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu.

Fighting broke out on March 1, 2013 between Malaysian security forces and the intruders who attempted to escape after being surrounded by police in Kampung Tanduo.

In the incident, two members of the security forces were killed while three more intruders were injured and 12 other intruders were shot dead.

A day after that, six more policmen were killed in an ambush at a water village in Kampung Simunul, Semporna and two soldiers were killed in a fight in Lahad Datu.