Tangau (L) being welcomed by UPKO members and supporters during his arrival at KKIA.
KOTA KINABALU: Filipino gunmen involved in the latest kidnapping in east coast Sabah were looking for easy cash, according to United Pasokmomogun Kadazan Dusun Murut Organization (UPKO) president Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau.
Madius who raised the issue in the Parliament earlier this week, told reporters upon his arrival here from Kuala Lumpur yesterday that he was made to understand the armed men sneaked into Sabah looking for ‘business’ opportunity.
According to him, a former district officer from Semporna, now serving in Tuaran, had told him the kidnappers view the abduction as their money-making activity.
“I was informed that they were just looking to ‘trade’ their victims for money,” he said when met at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
Madius said Malaysian and Philippines authorities need to be more cautious in dealing with the latest inter-border kidnapping, keeping in mind that previous kidnappers had successfully collected the ransom for their victims.
He said while the agencies concerned continued effort to recover the two women abducted from a resort in Semporna early last week, the authorities should enhance the enforcement of all laws and regulations that could help them to better monitor security at resorts and other vulnerable areas along the State’s east coast.
He said this should include verifying documentation of all resort workers in these areas as well as ensuring that tourism operators meet all the guidelines and requirements for their operation.
“I was also made to understand that many resorts there (Semporna) have a trading licence but do not have the occupation certificate (OC). It is a bit awkward for the security agencies to provide the necessary services to operators that do not meet the regulation,” he said.
He also defended the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOMM), and said that he had in his debate in the Parliament stated that it was too early to blame and hang the agency for the incident.
Meanwhile, on politics, Madius assured UPKO supporters that the party remained strong and united, rejecting speculation that frictions were developing between certain groups in the party.
He stressed that all UPKO leaders, including those in the supreme council, were all in unity despite having expressed opposing views and some matters recently.
“Whatever issue there is, members are free to voice their views and leaders must be responsible in responding to their views and suggestions. Dissatisfaction is normal and it happens in any organizations.
“We cannot satisfy everyone but we sit together and discuss and the decision we make collectively as a party will be accepted and respected. It is just a small matter and we always resolve problems we have,” he said.