Johor PKR chief slams Putrajaya for failing to speak up for Osman
Johor PKR chief Hassan Abdul Karim has slammed the silence of Pakatan Harapan leaders, particularly those in federal power, on Singapore’s condemnation of Johor Menteri Besar Osman Sapian for allegedly trespassing the republic’s waters.
He said he is saddened to see that the federal government failed to speak up in Osman’s defence and that state leaders, too, have left Osman to fend for himself, even though Osman was merely performing his duty to defend Malaysia’s sovereignty.
“The attitudes of the federal and state governments seem cowardly for leaving the Johor menteri besar to be attacked, without the proper defences befitting his position as Johor menteri besar, and this is very regrettable,” Hassan (photo, above) said in a statement yesterday.
The Pasir Gudang MP said he would raise the matter in parliament when it sits in March and demand an answer from the federal government.
The Singapore government accused the Osman of intruding into its waters off Tuas on Jan 9 during the menteri besar’s visit to the Malaysian government vessel MV Pedoman.
The waters off Tuas are currently a subject of territorial dispute between Malaysia and Singapore.
Unlike other parts of the Johor Straits, the boundary between Malaysian and Singapore near Tuas has yet to be clearly defined, and both countries have made overlapping territorial claims.
Osman has denied intruding Singaporean territory, saying that his visit was not intended to be provocative, but was merely to observe Malaysian security forces at work.
Read more: Kiniguide: The M'sia-S'pore maritime dispute illustrated
