Malaysian minister dismisses calls for apology over Sabah incident

Kuala Lumpur, Nov. 20 (CNA) Malaysia's Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has said he does not see a need to apologize over the Nov. 15 armed abduction of a Taiwanese woman in Sabah which left her husband dead. Media reports in Taiwan and Maylasia have centered on Hishammuddin's allegedly casual dismissal of the case by saying that "kidnappings occur everywhere." The reported statement sparked anger in Taiwan, leading to calls for an apology over the remarks. When asked about the issue Monday, Hishammuddin said there was "nothing to apologize" for, the Malaysia's Chinese-language Sin Chew Daily reported. The minister also rejected criticism that the incident happened because of weak enforcement on the part of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM). He said the command is meant to deal with "bigger security threats," such as invasion by Sulu militants from the southern Philippines. The ESSCOM was set up in the wake of a Sulu incursion into Lahad Datu in eastern Sabah, which happened in February. He explained that the Eastern Sabah Security Zone covers a broad area facing many threats, and law enforcement needs the "eyes and ears" of the public to help in policing. The abduction case, which took place on the tourist resort island Pom Pom, is being handled by police with assistance from the military, he added.

Malaysian minister dismisses calls for apology over Sabah incident

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