Former Selangor MB Mohd Khir Toyo has blasted the government for taking the longest time to settle a security crisis since the riots of May 13, 1969.

Worse, Khir said, is that instead of containing the intrusion, it has spread from Lahad Datu to the neighbouring areas.

NONE “As far as I can remember this crisis has taken the longest time to be  resolved by the authorities since the May 13, 1969, incident.

“We have had several armed crises that involved locals and external terrorists, such as the Japanese Red Army occupation of the AIA building in 1975, and the Memali and Sauk incidents.

“But what raises the public’s anger is how, after nearly a month, the crisis (in Lahad Datu) has not seen its conclusion and resolution.

"Instead, from the limited situation in Lahad Datu, it has spread to Semporna and it will not be a surprise if it goes on to other districts along the maritime border with the Philippines,” the former MB said in a statement today.

The standoff at Lahad Datu, which began on Feb 9 and broke out into a gunfight on March 1, has since spread to neigbouring Semporna in the south and Kampung Tanduo in the north, so far seeing 12 local fatalities .

Khir is not the only former BN leader to slam the government's handling of the fiasco. Last night, former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad conceded that the government had misread the situation as an internal threat.

Little confidence in gov't optimism

Mahathir lamented that the situation had escalated and cost the lives of members of the police force and panned the government for not being in control but telling the public otherwise.

“The death of seven policemen from being shot by the terrorists in under a week is most saddening,” he said.

police killed in sabah lahad datu incident 020313 funeral “But if you look at the confusion now, it is not only an issue of security that needs to be prioritised by the government, but also the public’s confidence that the government can handle the issue."

Khir said the government could no longer repeat that things were under control, because each time the police claimed the situation is under control, we simultaneously received news that some policemen have perished.

He said it was imperative that a national security council be set up to operate round the clock to take over the handling of the crisis by the police.

The council, he said, could be chaired by either the prime minister or his deputy, and involve not only the police and army, but also the state government and various other parties.

“With the involvement of many parties, more information would get to the operations centre far more quickly to prevent the situation from escalating further,” Khir said.

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