Rosmayati
LAHAD DATU: Cash is running out and Rosmayati A Hamid is getting anxious.
Her husband, Abbas Mubbas, 31, has not gone to sea for nearly a month now.
“Since the incident (at Kampung Tanduo), fishermen, including my husband, are not advised to go to sea.
“The security forces have told us that operations are still ongoing to get rid of the remaining intruders in Felda Sahabat. And it covers all – air, sea and land.
“We understand the need to stay out of the operation areas, but we have to earn our living too,” said the 29-year-old housewife.
For now, they are only allowed to fish at the river mouth, and Rosmayati said they depended on the daily catch as food source, which she said was not much.
“But since we are not getting any assistance, I guess we have to live with what we have,” she said.
Rosmayati said on March 1, after hearing news about the first clash between the Malaysian security forces and the Filipino intruders, which claimed the lives of two of our men and 12 gunmen, villagers at Kampung Tambisan Darat became alarmed.
Zamri
“Then we noticed more security forces were deployed to the police station here. I guess probably they were guarding the open sea as the village, which is an island, is quite vulnerable to any attack from the sea,” she said.
She added that since her house is located just a few steps away from the police station, they were asked to leave.
“One of the policemen said it was for our safety. He said normally, during such conflicts, police stations or security forces would become targets.
“So since my house is so close to the police station, we decided to temporarily put up at a relative’s house. We stayed there for about a week,” she said.
After returning to their home, they had to make do with whatever they have.
“I just hope all this will end soon so my husband can go back to the sea. I fear that we will not be able to survive if the situation does not change,” said the mother of three.
Meanwhile, Zamri Mahmud also shared Rosmayati’s sentiments, adding he too was not convinced to go out fishing at the open sea yet.
“We did ask the security forces if we could go out to sea to fish, they did not actually stop us but told us that whatever we decided to do, it would be at our own risk.
“So after hearing that, I rather stay safe than sorry,” said the 47-year-old.
On the ongoing conflict, Zamri said they had not seen any suspicious looking people at Kampung Tambisan Darat, about 40 kilometres from Kampung Tanduo.
“We only heard about it from TV (television). Although the conflict area is quite far from here, I still get very worried for the safety of my wife and children.
“But seeing police presence here makes me happy. At least we know that the security forces will take good care of us,” said Zamri.
For now, the Tambisan Pulau Police Station has the strength of 33 men.
Deputy State Police Commissioner Datuk Tan Kok Liang said that there was a proposal to build a new police station at Kampung Tambisan Darat, which means deploying additional manpower and enhancing security measures in the area.
Tambisan is divided into six villages – Tambisan Darat, Tambisan Pulau, Simuning, Pamanutan and Sungai Nipah – with a population of some 900 people.
The old police station was set up in the 1930s.
“It is about time the police station here be upgraded to ensure better services for the people,” said Tan.