Philippine authorities must strengthen their side of the border too, says IGP

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KOTA KINABALU: Philippine security authorities must intensify their efforts to strengthen their side of the border, stressed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.

He said the move was to prevent more cross border crimes from being committed, such as the kidnap-for-ransom incidents in the east coast of Sabah.

“We do understand that their border is fragile with so many islands. But we also feel that it is time for cross border crime groups to be dealt with severely.

“Whatever action the Philippine security authorities want to take, I leave it to them. But we want to see action that will really have an impact so that these groups will not continue to target our people and tourists,” he said.

Khalid told reporters this today, after the ceremony to acknowledge the posthumous promotion of Corporal Razkan Seran to Sergeant, at the Sabah police contingent headquarters here.

Razkan, the bodyguard of Rompin member of parliament Tan Sri Jamaluddin Jarjis perished with the latter in a helicopter crash in Semenyeh, Selangor, last April 4.

His widow Setinurafeni Andu received the promotion certificate from the IGP. Also present at the ceremony was Sabah Commissioner of Police Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman.

Meanwhile, Khalid said he would broach the subject of cross border security at the next meeting with his Philippine counterpart.

“The issue had already been raised in our past meetings; we initiated various joint measures with the Philippines and Indonesia including exchange of intelligence information but these are still inadequate,” he said.

On his earlier suggestion that Sabah should cease to engage in barter trade with the neighbouring country, he said it was because the activities involved, provided criminals the opportunity to enter the country to commit crime.

“Some quarters might not agree with my suggestion but I see barter trade as a continuous threat to the security of our people and country,” he said.

Khalid also said he was still unsatisfied with the curfew in Sabah’s east coast as the coastline stretching more than 1,700 kilometres could still be penetrated by criminals.

He said the police would conduct a study to find a more effective approach to enhance the system.

In KUALA LUMPUR, the kidnapping incident in Sabah would be discussed in the Dewan Rakyat this afternoon after the motion received the nod from Deputy Speaker Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee. -Bernama