Special Security Area not rhetoric – Hisham

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KOTA KINABALU: Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said a special meeting would be held on Monday to set up a line of defence along the entire east coast of Sabah from Kudat to Tawau to strengthen security and prevent any future intrusion.

Speaking to reporters at the Sabah Police Headquarters in Kepayan here yesterday, Hishammuddin said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman would chair the meeting.

“We welcome the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and the meeting will be held to coordinate the line of defence which will involve all departments under the Ministry of Home Affairs,” he said.

Najib announced on Thursday that the line of defence would be erected along the entire east coast of Sabah from Kudat in the north to Tawau in southeast to prevent any future intrusion, especially from the island territories in the southern Philippines.

The special security area followed the intrusion by a Sulu militant group in Lahad Datu on Feb 12 which forced the Malaysian security forces to launch a military offensive after eight policemen were killed.

Hishammuddin said the departments involved such as Immigration, Registration departments and the Police would be notified of inputs gathered during the meeting for the purpose of coordination.

“This shows that what was announced by our Prime Minister (Najib) is not rhetoric, but will be executed comprehensively,” he said, adding that Najib would personally be involved in seeing that the plan materializes.

“All these efforts that we are doing are to give assurance to the people of Sabah that we are taking this matter very seriously. Although this is a very new and very complex issue, it is something that we will not take lightly.

Hishammuddin also confirmed that the Sulu militant group in Lahad Datu had not laid down their weapons unconditionally and the Ops Daulat would continue.

He also urged the public not to listen to rumors that could threaten the country’s security.

Citing an example, he said that untoward incidents that would happen on Friday, March 8, reported through social media and SMSs never happened.

“I personally monitor all these rumours, day and night, and today (yesterday) I can assure Sabahans that not a single incident happened either in Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Sandakan or in Tawau,” said Hishammuddin.

He added that the police, security departments and volunteer agencies had been monitoring the situations in their respective areas.

He also wants all volunteer agencies such as the Sabah Civil Defence Department (JPAM) and People’s Volunteer Corps (RELA) to be actively involved with the police in safeguarding the community.

“We want all these volunteer agencies as well as the community to work together with other enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of our country,” he said.