From the Philippine News Agency/Bernama (Mar 6): Armed intruders must surrender first if
they want to talk - Mahathir
The armed intruders in Lahad Datu must halt their resistance against Malaysian
security forces and surrender first in order for any possible negotiations to
take place, said former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
"They cannot continue being aggressive. If they want to negotiate, they must
lay down their weapons first," he told reporters after the 'Sharing the
Experience of Nation Building' discourse at the Islamic Art Museum, here
Wednesday.
It is impossible to provide an opportunity for talks until they give a
guarantee that there will be no more violence, as this involves the safety of
the residents and security personnel there, he said.
"They have killed our people
in a cruel manner. This has provoked the anger of the deceased's next-of-kin and
colleagues. We cannot take it lightly as they died in our defence," he said.
He was commenting on a local newspaper report based on Rappler.com quoting
Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founder Nur Misuari as saying he was
prepared to mediate in the armed intrusion situation.
"This is my message to Prime Minister, (Datuk Seri) Najib Razak. I'm prepared
to send my kin to start talks," he said.
He was quoted as saying that he was prepared to personally help Malaysia
resolve the crisis, which started early last month, after the armed intruders
breached Sabah's coast and entrenched themselves in Lahad Datu.
Commenting further on the alleged manipulation of information on the
situation in Lahad Datu by several alternative media, Mahathir advised people
not to be carried away by their approach.
He claimed that the pro-opposition media definitely had an agenda to weaken
the government by posting various false stories and distorting the situation.
"Ignore it. Over time, it will be proven who was lying and we'll know what's
right and what's wrong," he said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=504420
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