Do not try, police warn would-be intruders

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PENAMPANG: The Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) and security forces are ready to face any groups that wish to threaten the sovereignty of the country, said Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib.

He said the police and security forces would act accordingly against any individual or group who tries to incite disorder or intrude into the country, as what had happened in Lahad Datu last year.

“This is a warning. Do not try to cause chaos or underestimate our security forces as we are always ready to face any threat to protect our country.

“We have the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM), the Royal Malaysia Navy, the Royal Malaysia Army, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, the RMP and security forces, so we are ready to defend our country from any threats,” he said yesterday.

Hamza said this in respond to Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar who verified that a senior leader of a Sulu group is planning an attack on Sabah.

In the statement, Khalid said the individual was also believed to stake a claim on Sabah, as what had happened last year by a group of foreign militants in Lahad Datu.

The individual however claimed that his group was not associated with the same group who tried to invade Tanduo, Lahad Datu on February 12 last year.

Hamza said such information (threats to Sabah) had been received by security forces after the end of the Tandua incident, but no foreign group had successfully made any attempt.

“Police will take all information, especially when it comes to the security of our country, seriously and we will investigate.

“At the moment, the police are keeping an eye on the individual (senior leader of a Sulu group) who is planning to come to Malaysia to meet a political leader.

“As far as I am concerned, this individual can enter Malaysia legally as Malaysia is a free country and we do not stop people from coming into our country.

“But if anyone tries to cause chaos or threats, we will not hesitate to take stern action,” he said.

Hamza said this at a press conference after launching ‘Unit Rondaan Bermotosikal’ (URB), Phase II, at Taman Suria, here yesterday.