According to Bernama report, Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar has today confirmed that terrorists from Islamist militant groups Al-Qaeda and Abu Sayyaf are believed to be involved in the murder and abduction of a Taiwanese tourist and his wife in Sabah yesterday.
The IGP has assured that the police and armed forces will enhance security measures in Semporna, where the incident occurred, and all of eastern Sabah.
Malaysians, especially Sabahans who have been living in fear do not want mere verbal assurances but real concrete actions which will prevent a recurrence of similar incident.
In fact, the government must account for the security lapse which has resulted in the tragic incident which will undoubtedly put Malaysia in the international news for the wrong reason.
When launching the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) in April this year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib has said, among steps to be taken to ensure peace along Sabah’s coastline, there will be effective coastal surveillance 24-hours a day.
Last month, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Shahidan Kassim also told the Parliament that millions of ringgit has been allocated for Esscom .
He has said that RM1.08 million has been allocated to upgrade nine of the 36 watch posts on the Sabah east coast and another RM100 million is earmarked for construction of 830 houses and supporting infrastructure to relocate those living in water villages and who are exposed to insurgency threats.
However, BN MP for Kalabakan Abdul Ghapur Salleh has then responded by saying that residents on the east coast of Sabah still do not feel safe despite the much-publicised Esscom.
Ghapur has claimed in Parliament “to date, there has been no clear development”.
“Of the 800 houses, not a single one has taken off, so I am asking that the minister provides me with a written reply detailing what has been done,” Abdul Ghapur said.
To a query by DAP MP Kulasegaran, Shahidan has said that the people in Sabah feel safe and ‘living in fear’ only applies to Kuala Lumpur
He has also said “ We are increasing security personnel effective next year, as well as (undertaking) radar monitoring, but these things are not by way of Aladdin’s magic lamp and need time for planning ….’.
Let me tell the government that it has been more than 6 months since the Prime Minister launched Esscom, a lot should have been done to make Sabahans feel safe and these efforts don’t require Aladdin’s magic lamp.
The government must take security matter seriously and must stop giving any excuses.