TAWAU: Members of the armed forces have been urged to be vigilant and not to become oblivious to the situation around them due to relative calm in the waters off eastern Sabah, said armed forces chief Gen Tan Sri Azizan Ariffin.“We must be on guard due to uncertainties in the strategic landscape and security threats in the region.
“Irresponsible elements are waiting for the right moment to capitalise on our laxity and weaknesses,” he said at the opening of the new Joint Force Region 2 (Forward Operation Base) complex at the Kukusan Camp near here yesterday.
He said the state of preparedness in the “Ops Pasir” (an operation to curb crimes and encroachment of Malaysian waters) should always remain high in an effort to safeguard the nation.
“Members of the joint force must maintain a high level of discipline and conduct to ensure that the armed forces is held in high regard by the local community, government agencies and tourists,” he said, adding that poor discipline would tarnish the image of the armed forces.
On the new Joint Force 2 complex, he said as the central command and control of the regional operation, it was equipped with an integrated communication system known as “MASURI” and a radar system encompassing integrated maritime surveillance and centric systems.
He said the sophisticated equipment would facilitate the operation in terms of administration, control, communication and relaying information.
Speaking to reporters later, Azizan said the security situation in the waters of Sabah was under control since the launch of “Ops Pasir” after the Sipadan hostage crisis over nine years ago.
He said under “Ops Pasir”, members of the armed forces were deployed on 21 islands and five locations along the coast. — Bernama