DAP Sabah is disappointed with the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) Commander Datuk Abd Rashid Harun for brushing aside the business community’s claims that Esscom personnel were using excessive force in conducting operations against illegal immigrants here.
Abd Rashid should not be too quick to dismiss the allegations without investigating the people’s complaints.
The Tawau Chinese Chamber of Commerce President, Lo Su Fui has no political interest or motive to bring down the image of Esscom. In fact, the businessmen are the most pro-establishment.
Something must have happened that this pro-establishment group had to come forward to make a public statement on the attitude and action of Esscom?
What has been said by Lo should be investigated and not being brushed aside. The people’s voice must be heard.
In this respect, I challenge Abd Rashid to prove that the allegation of using brute force and abuse of powers among Esscom personnel are false.
We have been getting complaints from various quarters on the existence of power abuse in Esscom operations.
On Thursday, MP for Kota Kinabalu, Jimmy Wong, MP for Sandakan, Stephen Wong and I submitted a memorandum on Esscom to the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in Parliament.
Among the complaints in the memorandum were excessive force used by personnel of Esscom in its operations damaging properties in business premises.
Apart from that the memorandum also alleged the existence of element of corruptions in Esscom, particularly involving undocumented foreign workers as well as its high-ranking officers playing golf while on duty.
The memorandum also questioned the need for 40 Esscom personnel who were in full combat attired and wearing mask to be called to help Sandakan Municipal Council to close down a restaurant for unapproved renovation on the premises.
In the memorandum, it was also noted that the relevant minister had replied to the question from MP for Kota Kinabalu that the number of illegal immigrants deported during the integrated operations led by Esscom to be 3,668.
However, they claimed 3,668 was not the official figure since the operations had been conducted since February this year.
In order to clear the air we hope the matter would be investigated.
The people are not terrorists. Esscom need to respect the rights of the people and not to be prejudiced as though everyone is a terrorist to them. Many see the actions by Esscom as bullying the citizens but unable to address criminals from across the border.
We demand for Esscom not to simply cause disturbance among the public but give more focus to the security at the coastal areas.
Abd Rashid had been reported as saying that security forces under Esscom did not marginalise, victimise or give two ways treatment to business operators or even illegal immigrants in the discharge of their official duties and responsibilities.
We are bound by a standard procedure as provided for under the law. We are not acting alone during operations but we work alongside with other enforcement agencies such as immigration, Royal Customs and Excise Department as well as relevant state agencies.
It is impossible for a member or officer of an agency or Esscom to use brute or excessive force without being noticed or without any reports by other agencies that were involved.