KOTA KINABALU: Security threats to Sabah do not only come from intruders to the state but also from those who are living on the mainland.
According to Sabah PKR liaison chairman Datuk Seri Panglima Lajim Ukin, this is because some of those responsible are residing on the state’s mainland.
Lajim opined that some of these ‘security risks’ are those who have obtained Malaysian identity cards through dubious means and are residing on the mainland and not at water villages along Sabah’s coast.
“Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad’s suggestion that water villages in Sabah be demolished is not right and I do not agree with it because it is not an easy thing to do,” the Klias assemblyman stressed.
“That is why I have said that it is imperative for the government to recall all Malaysian identity cards issued in Sabah and new ones be issued only to those who qualify as true Sabahans,” he said.
Mahathir in his blog last week urged the government to dismantle the water villages in Sabah through which the militants allegedly arrive and attack with impunity.
Joining the chorus of criticism against the government’s Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) that has failed to prevent repeated incursions by suspected Filipino insurgents, the former prime minister voiced dread for Malaysia’s sovereignty if the country were to face a large-scale terrorist attack.
“It is very shameful when Malaysia cannot even stop terrorists from entering its territory at any time. What will happen if attacks by thousands of terrorists happen?” he wrote in Malay on his Chedet blog.
In a word of caution, he said the threat posed to the country was real and reminded the government of the 2013 incursion into coastal Lahad Datu by some 200 armed Filipinos bent on taking control of Sabah, which had once belonged to the now-defunct Sulu sultanate but which the group insisted it still owned.
Dr Mahathir’s scathing criticism comes in the wake of the latest assault on the island resort of Mabul, where one marine policeman was killed and another abducted by suspected Filipino gunmen in a shootout.
Lajim pointed out that demolishing the water villagers would not be easy as it will cost a lot of money.
“Then, there is the issue of relocating the locals as those in the identified areas where they will be relocated to will most definitely object to it. Such was the case involving the squatters from Sri Tanjung, who had to be relocated to make way for the airport runway expansion project,” he stressed.
Lajim opined that with the curfew imposed in the east coast, there will be no need to demolish the water villages there as the security forces will have a better control over the movement of the residents in the area.
Meanwhile, Lajim extended deepest condolences to the families and friends of all those who perished on board MH17 which crashed in Ukraine last week.
He said PKR Sabah is sadden by the tragedy which claimed the lives of 298 passengers and crew on board the ill-fated flight.
In view of the tragedy, Lajim urged the relevant quarters, both locally and internationally, to conduct a thorough investigation into what caused the Malaysia Airlines aircraft to crash.
“We want those responsible to be punished for what they have done. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has said that other countries are cooperating with Malaysia in the investigation so we want to see how far is his influence with world’s leaders,” Lajim said.
Lajim added that PKR Sabah also regretted the killing of marine police Corporal Rajah Jamuan in an ambush by a group of armed men at a resort in Pulau Mabul, Semporna two weeks ago.
The late Rajah’s colleague, Constable Zakiah Aliep, 26, is believed to have been kidnapped by the attackers.
“We at PKR Sabah also extend our sympathies and condolences to the family of the late Rajah and urged the government to work hard in securing Zakiah’s release through any means possible so that he can come home and celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri with his family,” Lajim stressed.
He added that the government must also look into increasing ESSCom’s logistics and manpower in order to be more effective in keeping intruders out of Sabah.