The nation was shocked that another kidnapping incident has occurred at Semporna, just a few months after last year’s incident where there was a murder of a Taiwanese tourist and the kidnapping of his wife at Pom Pom Island off Sabah.
Many people have criticised and expressed their anger at Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) for the latest security breach.
But Esscom Corporate Communication head, Newmond Tibin yesterday clarified that it has no power to “give direct orders” to the 10 districts.
Newmond said the 10 districts – Kudat, Kota Marudu, Pitas, Beluran, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau – are under the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (Esszone) and had their own respective OCPDs.
This is quite a shocking announcement as the government has given the impression that with the setting up of Esscom, Sabah safety will be ensured.
The Prime Minister who launched Esscom in April last year to beef up security in Sabah should let Malaysians know if he accepts such an explanation.
Since the police force is under the Home Ministry, Home Minister Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi must now take responsibility for the latest security breach which has further tarnished Malaysia’s international image.
Nevertheless, I disagree with the RM 500 cash offer to slap Zahid made by former Sabah chief minister Yong Teck Lee.
It has been reported that he has made the offer as to show the anger of Sabahans over the repeated failures of the federal government to fulfill its constitutional duty to protect Sabah and its people.
Zahid has in February dismissed the slap threat made against me by the self styled Council of Islamic NGOs and let’s see how he will respond to this slap threat against him by Yong Tekc Lee.
While many netizens have said that Zahid has reaped what he sowed for his dismissal of the slap threat against me, I wish to make it clear that Yong Teck Lee‘s cash for slap against Zahid is totally wrong and unacceptable.
A slap threat is criminal intimidation and to support it is tantamount to replacing rule of law with jungle laws.
I am committed to rule of law and will never advocate jungle laws. My stand is therefore my commitment to the rule of law and is not a support for Zahid.
If Zahid cannot provide a satisfactory and acceptable explanation for the security breach, he should have the sense of honour to offer his voluntary resignation as the Home Minister, failing which the option is for the Prime Minister to sack him.