Don’t pay heed to rumours, people urged

Keeping vigil: Malaysian soldiers guarding a road heading to the Simunul village where a gunfight with intruders occurred on Saturday night.

PETALING JAYA: The public has been advised not to believe rumours on the Sabah invasion being spread in social media websites such as Twitter and Facebook.

Internal Security and Public Order deputy director Deputy Comm Datuk Muhammad Fuad Abu Zarim said believing in rumours would only make things worse and cause people to panic.

DCP Muhammad Fuad said the public should log on to the police's official Facebook site (www.facebook.com/PolisDirajaMalaysia) and Twitter site (https://twitter.com/PDRMsia) for the latest information and development in Sabah.

“We are doing our best to ensure the safety and security of all Malaysians. Rumour-mongering will only worsen the situation.

“Our (the police) actions are always in the best interest of the public. Their safety and security will not be compromised,” he said.

Netizens on Saturday night went into a frenzy after conflicting “reports” emerged over the attacks in Semporna and Kunak.

In KANGAR, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has also advised the people against believing rumours that the country's security has been undermined by the armed intrusion.

The Prime Minister said the shooting incidents were confined to three locations - Lahad Datu, Semporna and Kunak.

“The rumours are unfounded and not based on the actual situation. The people of Sabah should not be fearful of their safety,” he told reporters after opening the main campus of Universiti Malaysia Perlis in Pauh, near here, yesterday.

In KEPALA BATAS, former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawialso urged the people not to speculate about the invasion.

“Speculation will only create more complications and problems. I believe police will provide accurate and fast statements when needed,” he said.

In a related development, the Special Affairs Department (Jasa) took several media portals and bloggers to task for posting irresponsible comments over the Sulu intruders.

Its director-general Datuk Fuad Hassan said it was “unbecoming” of these portals to claim that the intrusion reflected the Government's weakness in dealing with the situation.

“At a time when the country is facing a security threat, they should display their patriotic spirit instead of making negative assumptions on what is going on,” he said.

He said the people should trust the security forces to resolve the matter and restore peace in Sabah.