KKCCI worried over new kidnapping

0

KOTA KINABALU: The Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KKCCCI) expressed utmost concern over yet another kidnapping in the east coast of Sabah yesterday.

Its president, Michael Lui Yen Sang, deplored the recurrence of such incident, in spite of the recent efforts made by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman and the China Consul-General Liu Quan that the confidence on the security of Sabah would be soon restored to attract Chinese tourists whose diminishing arrival recently due to the kidnapping incidents of Chinese tourists in Semporna.

Lui reckoned even though this could be a separate case, the grand efforts of all concerned in restoring the confidence of foreign tourists would be seriously affected.

“Irrespective of whether the victims are foreigners or Malaysian citizens, the fear and sense of insecurity reverberate through all levels of our population,” he said.

Lui expressed his consternation that it would be very harsh on the morale of the business community, especially in the tourism sector.

He pointed out that recently Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) had revealed the reinforcement and replenishment of personnel and military hardware to beef up the security of the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone).

“It is an irony that the recurring kidnapping undermined the preventive measures so painstakingly orientated by ESSCom. Our federal and state governments must quickly come together to review the strategy immediately,” he added.

Lui appealed to the Federal and State Governments to maintain close working relationships to work out the best security measures to protect Sabahans and their properties, and to restore the confidence of foreign investors and tourists back to Sabah.