Those accusing the government of denying the heroic deeds of warriors killed in the Lahad Datu skirmish with terrorists, with its honour ceremony and national mourning for victims of the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines MH17 aircraft have a 'certain agenda'.

    

Defence Hishammuddin Hussein said they were instigative, voracious in questioning the ceremony and inhumane in their lack of consideration.

"The families of the warriors of Lahad Datu know what the government is doing to look after and honour those who have died... (the accusation) is not too serious, but it tries to cast aspersions on the government's treatment of the warriors of Lahad Datu," he said.

He was speaking to reporters after opening the Ipoh Timor Umno division meeting today.

    

On the Lahad Datu warriors, Hishammuddin said national sovereignty medals were created for them, adding that they were specially designed by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

"How we took care of the bodies of the warriors who were killed... The government had also met their families who were at that time, in grief... so was I," he added.

He said the government would also continue to monitor development in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone, following the support of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters - a breakaway of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front - and the Abu Sayyaf group towards the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria group.

"This means there is no end yet to the issue of the intrusion in Lahad Datu. We will continue to monitor this and let's not fool around with security issues," he said.

As such, Hishammuddin stressed that the act of questioning the efforts of the government in giving the same honour to the victims of the MH17 and MH370 aircraft tragedies and the warriors of Lahad Datu should stop.

"If we don't explain, it will spill over into the social media. They don't know what had happened. In the end, the good we have done, recognised by the world on Friday, will be nullified," noted the minister.

    

He said from feedback received, including those from the international media and foreign embassies, the honour ceremony and national mourning were carried out in an orderly manner.

"It not overly simple, but it was quite perfect," he said.

Soldiers were proud to take part

    

On the statements of a PKR leader who deemed the soldiers who took part in the honour ceremony on Friday as "slaves", Hishammuddin said in reality, the soldiers in question felt they were honoured to take part in the ceremony.

    

He said the PKR leader might not know that every one of the soldiers involved, when met, felt their involvement was an honour.

"It is a statement which is seen as capable of triggering anger in the army. Don't heed the voice of one or two, maybe there is an emptiness in their soul, they do not decide the dignity of Malaysian soldiers," he added.

Yesterday, a PKR delegate from Perak, Admiral (Rtd) Imran Abdul Hamid as questioning the use of army personnel for the ceremony honouring the remains of the victims of the ill-fated MH17 aircraft.

He had alleged that soldiers who died defending the nation in the intrusion at Lahad Datu were not given such grandiose honour.

    

When debating the motion at the 10th PKR National Congress in Shah Alam, Selangor, Imran, who is also Lumut member of parliament claimed the army was "excessively used like slaves" in the national mourning ceremony yesterday.

- Bernama