THE kidnappings and murder incidents that have continued to transpire between 2000 and 2013 are indications that ESSCom’s establishment has not have a significant impact on securing the safety of Sabah’s east coast, said Datuk Lajim Haji Ukin.
And it has resulted in the people questioning ESSCom’s effectiveness to look after the security and peace at Sabah’s east coast, the Klias assemblyman added at the state assembly sitting, yesterday.
He claimed that ESSCom had failed to provide concrete excuses, actions and prevention plans each time an untoward incident occurred at the affected sites.
And that ESSCom only provided standard arguments such as ‘the involvement of insiders’, ‘surveillance activities are hampered due to the vast coastline’, ‘intelligence weakness’ and others, said Lajim.
He added that the failures to address the recurrences of kidnappings and intrusions had brought negative implications to the people, investors and foreign tourists.
As a result of the negative activities, an estimated 76 Chinese flights to Kota Kinabalu had been cancelled recently, he said.
Further worsening the situation were the travel advisories against visiting Sabah issued by the US, Britain and Germany, he said.
Since January to July, four kidnapping incidents have occurred.
The first one occurred on April 3 with the kidnapping of 29-year-old Gao Huo Yun from China and Marcy Dayawan, a Filipina resort worker at the Singamata Reef Resort in Semporna. This was followed with the kidnapping of fish farm manager, Yang Zai Lin, also from China, at Pulau Baik, Lahad Datu on May 6. Then on June 16, a Suluk worker was kidnapped in Semporna by armed gunmen and on July 12, eight armed men attacked two police marine personnel and caused the death of Corporal Rajah Jamuan. The armed men kidnapped Constable Zakia Aleip. The incident occurred at Pulau Mabul, Semporna at about 11.30pm.
“We believe the encroachment, kidnapping and murder are due to the failure of addressing several key issues effectively by the government,” he said.
Lajim then forwarded the following suggestions which he hoped would be implemented fully by the government.
He said his suggestions were to speed up the presentation and announcement on the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the identity card issue, the Sabah citizenship issue, and that political parties and non governmental organisations (NGOs) conduct the initiative to screen through the authenticity of identity cards issued in Sabah.
He said the initiative must be followed with the re-issuance of new identity cards for Malaysians in Sabah.
He also suggested to establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry to look into the intrusion case, as well as the murder and kidnapping case in Pulau Mabul on July 12.
Meanwhile, Tunku assemblyman Datuk Mohd Suhaili said the repeated kidnappings would have negative implications on the state’s economy.
Bingkor assemblyman Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan urged the government to look into the border issue and proposed for a permanent settlement of the long-standing issue with the Sulu Sultan by providing a one-off compensation payment.
His proposal was immediately contradicted by the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman who said the issue of Sabah claim should not be raised as Sabah was part of Malaysia.
On hearing Musa’s reply, Jeffrey said he agreed with what the Chief Minister had said but mentioned also of the threats affecting Sabah, such as the large number of inland foreigners now residing in the state.
“This is a breeding ground (for them),” he said
Kemabong assemblyman Datuk Rubin Balang interjected and said there were no guarantees that the intrusion and other untoward activities would stop after the one-off payment was made to the Sulu Sultanate.
Tambunan assemblyman Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan then called point of order 44 and informed the house that Sabah does not recognise the claim by the Sulu Sultanate and hence, payment issues do not arise.
Jeffrey argued that the Sabah claim was part of the solution to the Sabah security issue.
Among his other suggestions was for the issuance of the Sabah identity card exclusively for the people of Sabah.