May 9 2014, 12:40 PM
Beefing up security in Sabah
KOTA KINABALU: More assets will be deployed in Sabah to boost land, sea and air security and plug weaknesses which led to people being kidnapped and intrusions to easily occur in the state.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the assets, including deployment of attack helicopters, fast boats and security personnel in high risk areas, were expected to arrive in Sabah soon.
"More (assets) are coming and even now it is starting to come in," he said after a meeting with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman who is also Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESScom) chairman here yesterday.
On whether the helicopters would include Apache Longbow or Eurocopter Tiger, Musa said these are being considered.
Zahid said other measures to be taken to boost security included registering local boats and ships to differentiate Malaysian and foreign vessels, where our vessels will have special codes and numbering.
The meeting at Musa's official residence Seri Gaya was held to discuss security issues, especially following the latest abduction at Pulau Baik, Lahad Datu.
It was also attended by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, National Security Council secretary Datuk Mohd Tajuddin Abdul Wahab, Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) director-general Datuk Mohammad Mentek, Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib and Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.
Musa said the discussion covered issues concerning security operations, assets and manpower and strengthening of coordination.
He said the federal government has taken the issue seriously by ordering Zahid and Shahidan to come here and assist in the security concerns.
"I would like to stress that we will take all actions to secure the safety of the people and tourists in Sabah, especially in the east coast.
"We will not compromise on security issues and we will continue to coordinate efforts to mantain the sovereignity of our waters," he said.
On 'curfew areas' to be introduced at high-risk areas in the east coast, Musa said it will be done soon where no entry would be allowed during designated time or periods.
He said the move would also cover fishermen as well as resort operators.
Meanwhile, Sabah police have identified sea routes used by gunmen who kidnapped the fish farm manager Yang, who is from Guangzhou.
State police commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said police more or less knew the abductors' travel pattern.
He pointed that there were quite a number of uninhabited islands along the way between Pulau Baik off Silam, Lahad Datu, and Mataking waters off Semporna.
"We are trying to establish whether the suspects had made a stopover at one of the islands."
Touching on the same issue, Zahid said authorities were also looking into the possibility that the abduction was carried out by militant leader Nur Misuari’s group.
He said the authorities were working closely with the Philippines intelligence on the matter.
"We have an exchange of intelligence information programme. Our Special Branch are also working very closely with their counterpart in Manila to study all possibilities including personalities who may be involved in this kidnapping,” he said when asked if the Former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari was linked to the kidnappings here recently.
It was reported five gunmen abducted Chinese national Yang Zai Lin, 34, from a fish farm on Pulau Baik about 2.45am on Tuesday.
They escaped into the southern Philippines after a clash with security forces at Mataking waters off Semporna.
The abduction came 28 hours after four gunmen robbed fishermen at Tanjung Labian waters off Lahad Datu. Sabah police are investigating whether the two incidents were done by the same group.
Last month, seven gunmen kidnapped a Chinese tourist and a Filipino worker from Singamata Adventures and Reef Resort near Semporna. Efforts to rescue them are still ongoing.
Zahid said Malaysia and Philippines governments have agreed to do follow up actions to strengthen the high-level committee (HLC) between both nations.
Military Thread V11, #Condolences9MMRO :(
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