KUALA LUMPUR: The police have arrested 179 people involved with Daesh terrorist groups in Malaysia, including five Sabahans, as of April 26 this year.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said the government took the issue of national security seriously, especially threats from terrorist groups.
He said the government and security forces were always concerned and serious about the security issues in Sabah.
“Our security measures are constantly being updated while security control is always being tightened by the relevant agencies.”
Nur Jazlan said in response to Barisan Nasional (BN) Senator Datuk Chin Su Phin’s question on the extent of the threat of Daesh influences which has spread in Sabah, during the Dewan Negara sitting here.
Chin also wanted to know the steps taking by the government to address the issue as Sabah is prone to such security threats.
Nur Jazlan said the government had taken various proactive measures such as creating strategic cooperation network between the Home Ministry and government agencies such as the National Security Council and Defence Ministry.
In addition, he said the government had strengthened the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) by increasing the manpower and security assets, as well as enforcing the curfew.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) also carry out continuous control and operations on land and waters.
He added that the government had further coordinated and stepped up national security management system in terms of intelligence, enforcement and involvement of security forces, and had drawn out a crisis management plan to deal with terrorist threats.
At the same time, Nur Jazlan said several approaches had also been taken to improve security in the country, such as improving intelligence regarding terrorist activities that could potentially threaten the security and sovereignty of the country, established close cooperation with intelligence partner agencies as well as enhancing existing technological capabilities.
He said the government had also established cooperation with all government agencies and departments, private sector, non-governmental organizations, political parties and the community to curb the influence of terrorist groups.
Nur Jazlan said the police force alone would not be able to ensure national security in every corner of the country.
Hence, he urged the people to provide information to the police to enable the government in its effort to eradicate terrorist groups.
On another issue, Chin asked the Education Minister on the percentage of Sabahan teachers posted to the state so far.
He also asked if the government was confident of filling teaching posts in Sarawak and Sarawak with 90 per cent teachers originating from the states in three years.
In response, Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the target to have 90 per cent teachers from Sabah and Sarawak to fill in local teaching positions in their home states could be achieved by 2018.
He said the implementation entailed posting back existing teachers from Sabah and Sarawak to serve in their home states, and teachers from peninsular to serve in West Malaysia starting January this year via the e-GTukar model.
In addition, Mahdzir said new teachers from Sabah and Sarawak who graduated in 2014 and 2015 had been be posted to their home states starting January this year.