SAPP: The Deputy Home Minister Should resign too

KOTA KINABALU - Deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar was quoted yesterday in saying that resorts operating in remote locations off Sabah should cease operation as authorities cannot prevent repeats of Wednesday’s abduction near Semporna. He said the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) — tasked with coordinating security forces in Sabah, could not provide round-the-clock protection to these far-flung locations.

Melanie Chia Chui Ket, the Vice President and Women Chief of Sabah Progressive Party, condemned the suggestion made by the Deputy Home Minister saying that the Government cannot shrug off its responsibility just like that!

The Deputy Home Minister is being highly irresponsible even to suggest that resorts operating in remote locations off Sabah should cease operation only because he thinks that the security forces could not provide round the clock protection to these far-flung locations!

It is unbelievable that such utterance is made by a Deputy Minister! It is also a wonder if the Deputy Minister had first tried to understand the condition before he made such an utterance. How could he not know that the resort where the abduction happened is only a 5 minutes boat ride from Semporna town!

It is as if the Minister should cut off his hand if his hand is immobilized! Shouldn’t he think of how to heal his hand instead? If he cannot discharge his duty, he should let somebody else who is more capable to take over his job. The Government should not make any further insensitive utterances which could create any more uneasiness especially at this time.

Melanie further went on to call on the Deputy Minister instead of making unwitting suggestion to close off island resorts, the lest he could do is to help to push for the early release of the outcome of the Royal Commission of Inquiry on illegal immigrants in Sabah. This is pertinent as the Sabah Police Chief Datuk Hamza Taib was reported yesterday to have said that the abduction which happened on Wednesday was an “inside” job.

Sabah Progressive Party had since the 1990s been calling the Government to resolve the illegal immigrants problem in Sabah and has dub the issue as the Mother of All Threats for Sabah.

Melanie contended that the long term solution to peace and security in Sabah is highly dependent on the outcome on the Royal Commission of Inquiry on illegal immigrants in Sabah.

As the call by the Chief Minister for all efforts to be directed to resolve the abduction which happened on Wednesday, Melanie stressed that this effort should include the seriousness and the commitment to resolve the long term peace and security issue in Sabah.