KOTA KINABALU: Sabah needs a proper security architecture comprising efficient intelligence gathering and timely actions to kill Abu Sayyaf bandits on the Philippines side of the border, a role that was played by Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC)-recognised Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in the past.
Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Yong Teck Lee said it is no shame to revisit some of the early security architecture that has had its successes in the past.
He suggested this after another cross-border kidnapping in the vicinity of the infamous location of the 2013 Tanduo incursion, off the heavily guarded Felda plantations.
“In fact, this is the ‘ground zero’ that is supposed to be the most secure part of ESSZone. And yet cross border bandits have managed to get away with another five Malaysian hostages. Sadly, this casts a crisis of confidence on the capability of our security forces,” he said in a statement yesterday. Having imposed night curfew, banned barter trade, put in security assets, launched a helicopter base in Lahad Datu, relocated fighter jets to Tawau and having spent hundreds of millions of Ringgit, the menace of cross-border kidnapping has continued unabated, he added.
“Therefore, it is time for the authorities to admit failure and go back to the drawing board. It takes more than a costly security infrastructure to combat such crimes in a volatile region where violence is a way of life, where guns bring prestige, where poverty is normal, where law and order is absent,” said the former chief minister.
Five Malaysian crew members were reported missing from their tugboat after it was found drifting in the waters off Dent Haven, Tambisan, Lahad Datu on Monday.
Police have not ruled out the possibility that Abd Rahim Summas,Tayudin Anjut, Fandy Bakran, Mohamad Jumadil Rahim and Mohd Ridzuan Ismail might have been kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf.