SULU MILITANTS FUNDED BY ‘SOMEONE’

 VISIT...... Mahathir visit Tanduo today.

By : SYED JAYMAL ZAHIID

KUALA LUMPUR : The Sulu incursion of Sabah is likely funded by 'someone' as the Sulu Sultanate is known to be poor, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, amid allegations that Malaysian politicians are behind the conflict.

The former prime minister said although claims of a 'third party' involvement were still under police investigation, he believed the Sulu Sultanate had received financial assistance. He, however, refused to say if the Malaysian opposition was involved.

“All operations cost money… I don’t think the Sulu sultan is rich judging from the information of our government but where does the money come from.

“This is certainly a question people will ask and I am certain that the police would want to know,” Dr Mahathir (picture) told a press conference after donating to the police’s welfare fund for the families of eight officers killed in the conflict.

Citing a media report from the Philippines, leaders from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition have alleged that Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had instigated the Sulu incursion.

The Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia and TV3 had picked up a news report from the Philippine Daily Inquirer two weeks ago, citing an allegation that an unnamed individual allied to Anwar had given the opposition’s support to the Sulu rebels’ claim on Sabah.

Utusan also cited a February 14 report from newswire Reuters, in which an anonymous Philippine military officer reportedly said a Malaysian opposition politician had invited the Sulu men to discuss land matters.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak immediately ordered an investigation on the matter.

Anwar has denied the allegations. The PKR de facto leader claimed the accusations were meant to divert public attention from Putrajaya’s weak handling of the situation.

He has also sued both Utusan and TV3 for defamation.

A few days ago, PKR’s headquarters was attacked by hardline groups linked to Umno, BN’s Malay lynchpin, in relation to the Lahad Datu conflict.

The group, which PKR alleged are Umno members, had threatened to torch the building and pelted the party’s office with rocks, sticks and traffic cones.

They claimed the gathering was held to protest Anwar’s alleged link with the Sulu incursion while PKR said the attack was orchestrated to intimidate its leadership in the run up to Election 2013. (TMI)