Top officials who have been turned red faced by the latest armed intrusion at Pom Pom island off Semporna that has killed one tourist and abducted another should stop blaming Sabah's long coast line.
Nobody blamed our long coast line when Petronas exploited our vast oil and gas resources at sea. No one worried about the long coast line when our fishery and marine resources are tapped to the full. With the exploitation of our marine and undersea natural resources, the government has a constitutional duty to protect the same maritime area, the islands and people from harm.
Neither the British nor the Malaya governments in 1963 said that they could not secure Sabah and its island because of the long coast line. On the contrary, security was the first and foremost reason used to convince Sabahans to help form Malaysia. Sabah's coast line is still the same as it was in 1963. The coast line has not grown longer. Now that Malaysia has been formed, the federal government cannot run away from its duty to protect our shores.
The ICJ (International Court of Justice) had in 2002 recognised Sipadan Island as belonging to Malaysia because of the British colonial acts of governance by issuing permits to collect turtle eggs at the island. Sipadan Island is even much further from Sabah mainland than Pom Pom island. Malaysia cannot now give the flimsy excuse that the coast line is too long to guard.
It is not the long coast line to be blamed. It is the complacency of officials, lack of logistical assets like speed boats and other resources, lack of materials and personnel, lack of urgency, lack of intelligence about the potential intruders. Most of all, it is the lack of being held responsible when things go wrong.
So far, the officials have been shooting themselves on the foot. The Defence Minister (Dato Hishammudin) still had the audacity to say the security has not been breached when in fact 8 gunmen armed with high powered rifles had attacked an island within 1 km from a police base and got away! The Home minister, however, remains embarrassingly silent.
The ESSCOM director asserted that "the Pom Pom shooting incident was not related to the Sulu intrusion in February" but then went on to say that the police were still investigating. Since the police are still investigating, how can the ESSCOM director say who is or is not behind the attack? Before his retirement, the ESSCOM director should speak up on the shortcomings and disappointments faced by his powerless office.
The IGP today has named the Al-Qaeda linked terrorist group Abu Sayyaf as the prime suspect for the Pom Pom attack, contradicting earlier police statements that armed groups were not responsible.
The IGP also said the Malaysian Armed Forces are being asked to beef up security in the area. This is most confusing. Because hasn't the area been fully secured in the first place as assured repeatedly by ESSCOM, by the Sabah Chief Minister and Tourism Minister, by the ministers of defence and of home affairs, by the army and police top brass?
Do not forget that Pom Pom is not a remote isolated place. From the Putrajaya location, it might be seen as a remote area at the furthest point away from Malaya. But from Sabah's point of view, it is a thriving government-licensed tourist resort providing livelihood to many Sabahans.
Datuk Yong Teck Lee, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president.
Perlu ditekankan bahawa selama ini sememangnya ujud beberapa struktur keselamatan khas khusus untuk menangani isu keselamatan Sabah yang dianggap begitu mencabar dan unik. Mencabar kerana perairan terbuka sepanjang 1,400 kilometer begitu sukar untuk diawasi dan unik kerana komposisi penduduk Sabah yang mempunyai sejarah asal usul begitu menarik.
ReplyDeleteOperasi Padanan & Sipadan Island Resort atau lebih dikenali dengan nama singkatan Ops Pasir adalah salah satu struktur keselamatan yang diujudkan untuk berhadapan dengan ancaman khusus iaitu penculikan pelancong terutama sekali di pulau terpencil. Ops Pasir mula diperkenalkan pada tahun 2000 dan diuruskan oleh Markas Angkatan Bersama, Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (MAB-ATM).
ReplyDeleteBegitu juga dengan organisasi keselamatan lain seperti Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM), Agensi Penguatkuasaan Maritim Malaysia (APMM) dan Jabatan Imigresen mempunyai peranan tertentu demi menjamin keselamatan perairan Sabah.
Selama ini setiap aktiviti organisasi tersebut melaksanakan tugas masing-masing secara berasingan kerana setiap entiti tersebut mempunyai arahan pusat (central command) yang berbeza. Timbul beberapa kekangan terutama sekali dari segi kepantasan berkongsi maklumat risikan kerana masing-masing mempunyai strategi dan kepentingan yang berlainan di antara satu sama lain.
ReplyDeleteKawasan ESSCOM dalam beberapa bulan mendatang sudah pasti akan menyaksikan perubahan mendadak dalam aspek keselamatan bukan sahaja dari segi pertambahan kehadiran anggota keselamatan tetapi juga aset berkaitan seperti balai polis, pos pendalaman dan perairan dan Kompleks Kastam, Imigresen dan Kuarantin (CIQ).
ReplyDeleteKesemua aset tersebut tidak akan memberi makna jika tiada koordinasi aktiviti dan disinilah peranan ESSCOM menjadi kritikal. Perlu ditegaskan penubuhan ESSCOM bukan memberi maksud bahawa selama ini keselamatan perairan Sabah diabaikan, tetapi sebenarnya untuk memantapkan lagi struktur keselamatan sedia ada menghadapi cabaran masa hadapan.
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ReplyDeleteUnder the three-year implementation of the GTP 1.0, seven National Key Result Areas (NKRA) were introduced, of which according to the GTP Annual Report 2011, each NKRA had achieved composite scores of over 100 percent and some RM700 million in savings garnered.
ReplyDeleteThe result of the targets and achivements were also made available via the GTP Annual Report 2011.
ReplyDeleteThe seven NKRAs are aimed at reducing crimes, fighting corruption, improving students outcome, raising living standards of the low- income household, improving rural basic infrastructure, improving urban public transport and addressing the rising cost of living.
ReplyDeletefaktor geografi dan politik menyebabkan jumlah populasi pendatang asing di negeri itu meningkat dengan drastik sejak tahun 1963 sehingga 2012.
ReplyDeletePengarah Jabatan Pendaftaran Negeri (JPN) Sarawak Datuk Abu Bakar Mat berkata faktor tersebut menyebabkan pengeluaran kad pengenalan (IC) biru kepada golongan pendatang meningkat di Sabah dalam tempoh 49 tahun itu.
ReplyDeleteAbu Bakar berkata sebanyak 5,753 IC biru dikeluarkan kepada warga asing di Sarawak selepas mereka memperoleh taraf sebagai warganegara sejak 1963 sehingga akhir tahun lepas.
ReplyDeleteDitanya Manoj mengenai pendapatnya mengapa jumlah pengeluaran IC di Sarawak amat ketara perbezaaanya berbanding 66,000 di Sabah dalam tempoh yang sama, Abu Bakar berkata ia bergantung kepada keadaan di negeri masing-masing.
ReplyDeletelokasi di Sarawak berbeza dengan di Sabah. Kedudukan geografi di Sabah yang hampir dengan Filipina dan juga faktor politik menyebabkan jumlah populasi warga asing meningkat di Sabah berbanding di Sarawak
ReplyDeletekedudukan Sabah yang berdekatan dengan perairan laut dan juga bersempadan dengan Filipina juga merupakan faktor pendatang asing berhijrah ke negeri itu berbanding Sarawak.
ReplyDeleteKetika ditanya mengenai cadangannya bagi menangani masalah pendatang asing di Sabah, Abu Bakar berkata ia boleh dilakukan dengan mengetatkan lagi kawalan keselamatan di kawasan sempadan negeri itu dan juga dengan mewujudkan lebih banyak pintu masuk imigresen bagi memastikan kemasukan secara sah.
ReplyDeleteAbu Bakar yang memegang jawatan itu sejak tahun 2003 juga berkata pada 1966 sehingga 1980 permohonan IC di Sarawak mestilah disertakan dengan sijil perakuan taraf dan sijil kelahiran.
ReplyDeleteselepas 1980 hanya sijil kelahiran sahaja diperlukan untuk memohon IC dan sijil perakuan taraf tidak boleh lagi digunakan.
ReplyDeleteimplikasi sosial seperti gejala dadah, mencuri, kesihatan, dan kebersihan banyak berlaku di negeri itu disebabkan masalah setinggan yang didiami rakyat tempatan dan juga warga asing.
ReplyDeleteSetakat bulan Mei tahun ini sebanyak 253 buah rumah setinggan dirobohkan.Pada 2012 sebanyak 324 buah struktur setinggan dirobohkan, pada 2011 sebanyak 714 dirobohkan, 2010 pula sebanyak 510 buah dirobohkan dan pada 2009 sebanyak 1,520, buah rumah berjaya dirobohkan
ReplyDeletepenghuni setinggan terdiri daripada rakyat tempatan dan juga warga asing yang mendiami di kawasan tanah milik kerajaan dan juga di tanah lot milik persendirian. Terdapat kemudahan bekalan air, elektrik yang dibuat sambungan secara tidak sah di samping jalan raya.
ReplyDeleteTHERE is this quiet anger and feeling of disbelief showing here and elsewhere over the killing of the Taiwanese tourist and abduction of his partner on Pulau Pom Pom in Semporna, Sabah. Somehow, the bizarre incident had got onto the conscience of many and rattled the pride of some. They realise that the nation might just not have put in enough of that condition foreign tourists desire always: security from any threat and harm from criminals.
ReplyDeleteThe incident adds another blotch to the reputation of that part of the country, impacting negatively on our image and may restrict the flow of tourist dollars into Sabah. Travellers, even locals, will just not want to go and be where they do not feel safe.
ReplyDeleteNot surprisingly, Taiwan has issued an orange-level security advisory to its citizens intending to visit the area, which will make many not want to come. Other foreign missions here are also likely to follow suit. A decline in tourist arrivals can be expected.
ReplyDeleteHow could such a killing and abduction occur after all security and preventive measures had been put in place? Have we learned nothing from the Lahad Datu incident, which revealed the ease of the the self-styled Sulu royal army to enter and plant themselves on Sabah soil? Have we then not put in all the required solutions?
ReplyDeleteWhy couldn't the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), established after the Lahad Datu incident, and with the resources it has, prevent such an incident from happening? Questions that are easier asked than answered by anyone.
ReplyDeleteNobody should doubt the commitment of the military and police, who have deployed forces and systems on the ground to dominate and secure the vulnerable areas. But all of these had not impressed nor deterred the perpetrators, who had continued to go after their target: foreign tourists.
ReplyDeleteTheir modus operandi is not unlike that of Abu Sayyaf or those linked to it, which is to kidnap or take as hostages tourists and demand money for their release. There is that need now to improve the tourists' security, especially in resorts where they stay and in places where they go.
ReplyDeleteIt has to be even closer and more visible than it had ever been before and to include the installation of more surveillance equipment and technology. In addition, it might be necessary to consider for certain resorts and boat tour operators to have armed civilian guards to complement the effort of the military and police.
ReplyDeleteOr to make it mandatory for soldiers or policemen to guard those resorts that are vulnerable to raiders coming across from seaward. Continuing the cooperation with the Philippine authorities to stamp out cross-border piracy and kidnapping menace is vital. This might even include having the option of combined force pursuits all the way to its source.
ReplyDeleteIt might take some time for this to happen although there is nothing wrong getting all to think and be ready for such an option. Somehow, the feeling is that we may have to go down this road in time to come.
ReplyDeleteAll that can be done presently is for us to increase our effort to prevent a recurrence of |this incident. But that notwithstanding, the priority for now is for everyone to pray and to work hard and smart for the release and of the Taiwanese woman.
ReplyDeleteTHE abduction of Taiwanese tourist Chang An Wei and the killing of her partner in cold blood have once again put Sabah under the international spotlight. With a history of kidnappings and killings committed there by the Abu Sayyaf, this raises concern as to how safe tourists are when they vacation on the isolated, exotic islands off the state's coast.
ReplyDeleteSince the incursion by gunmen under the orders of the self-proclaimed sultan of Sulu, which resulted in the setting up of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), the state has gone on high gear to promote its tourist attractions regionally and internationally, especially the small islands where marine life flourish to the delight of tourists.
ReplyDeleteThe virgin jungles of Sabah, its national parks and Mount Kinabalu have enticed thousands to visit annually, bringing much revenue into the state's coffers. But all of these grand efforts will surely have an ugly dent if security is lacking and not addressed adequately despite the authorities doing their best.
ReplyDeleteWe have no alternative but to beef up security in the state's waters because of the close proximity with neighbouring countries. Small islands on the Philippines' side are prefect places for armed groups to hide their victims before bringing them to their hideout in Jolo Island, where even the Philippine army have had a hard time pursuing the kidnappers in the past.
ReplyDeleteWith the setting up of Esscom, I hope they will consider having more army or marine police personnel with speedboats, a couple of helicopters and jet fighters at their disposal. The personnel must be equipped with the best communication equipment for speedy response.
ReplyDeleteIf we have to spend a lot for the sake of security, then we just have to spend the money. Increase sea and air surveillance along the boundary with the Philippines, especially at night, as this is the time where kidnappers are active.
ReplyDeleteThis will send a strong signal to the intruders that they will face severe consequences from our security personnel. Due to the unresolved internal conflict in southern Philippines, we will continue to see unrest and the after-effect of the conflict will likely spill over to Sabah.
ReplyDeleteI hope the Philippine government will take steps to contain its internal conflicts and cooperate with Malaysian counterparts to ensure that the waters are safe for trans-border trade to flourish and tourists from both sides to enjoy their vacations.
ReplyDeleteIf the sight of security personnel may scare tourists and resort owners, I suggest that the personnel change their uniforms to civilian clothing. That will help to "soften" their image on tourists and resort owners, thus, adding more punch to the existing cooperation between the two.
ReplyDeleteSecurity personnel in civilian clothing can also mingle with tourists without raising alarm. It is time to take decisive action that will speak of our resolve to address security inadequacies and shortcomings in Sabah, especially in the islands where tourists visit in great numbers. We owe them our commitment to ensure their safety and well-being as good hosts.
ReplyDelete