KOTA KINABALU: Penampang member of parliament Darell Leiking has urged the government to step up and declare war on the kidnappers following another kidnapping incident in the east coast of Sabah yesterday morning.
He said this was no longer just the usual crime but an act of war against Sabahans and Malaysians.
“It is also incumbent on the government not to compromise or negotiate with any of these ‘terrorists’. End the concerns of Sabahans by utilizing our military and naval assets against them. The solution is to show no mercy to them and to hunt down these terrorists and capture, punish and deport all these illegal immigrants all over Sabah once and for all,” he said.
“These ‘terrorists who are likely foreigners, have entered and re-entered our shores with weapons to challenge our security, our sovereignty and to insult our defence capability. This is not acceptable at all.
“We have to take back our state’s security to a level where there are no questions or doubts as to whether our citizens can walk safely without fear of any danger to their families and most of all to save our Sabah and its economy, especially tourism. Act now before the situation gets worst,” he added.
Two workers from a fish farm in Kunak, Tawau were abducted by gunmen yesterday. One of them managed to escape by jumping off the speedboat of the kidnappers.
Leiking also said kidnapping continued to happen despite the promises that the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) was ready for any eventualities, especially after the last kidnapping.
“Multi-purpose speedboats and more troops have been promised and yet this threat to our beloved Sabah continues.
“As a Sabahan, I share the same concern and disbelief that with all the monies allotted, especially RM75 million passed in the 2014 budget for ESSCom to boost the security in Sabah east coast, has not met up with the promises of and expectations of the people.
“This worry and concern are coupled by the fact that even the Chief Minister of Sabah had in one of his statements warned those living in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) neither to conspire with illegal immigrants nor to harbour them.
“With that warning, there seems to be an implied ‘truth’ towards the allegations all over Sabah that the kidnappings in the east coast of Sabah had elements of assistance by those who have become citizens resulting from the alleged ‘Project IC’,” he said.
“As a member of parliament, I have been privy to hear debates and disappointments even from the Barisan Nasional bench, especially from the member of parliament of Kalabakan, Datuk Ghapur Salleh, who has criticized ESSCom as being a toothless tiger,” he said.
Leiking also urged the government and the Prime Minister to fully reveal the report on the Royal Commission of Inquiry on illegal immigrants in Sabah for Parliament to debate and to the public at large.
“The public have the right to know the report and recommendations as the inquiry was made out of public funds and from the demands of the people of the Federation of Malaysia, especially Sabahans,” he said.