» »Unlabelled » Shootings rock KK BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

07:46:00

Shootings rock KK BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

Shootings rock KK

Posted: 11 Jan 2014 12:11 PM PST

by Elton Gomes. Posted on January 12, 2014, Sunday

KOTA KINABALU: A group of mischievous teenagers caused unnecessary panic when they went on a shooting spree around the state capital and damaged 31 premises with air guns loaded with marbles early yesterday morning.

The group, police believed comprised of more than six youths, drove around the state capital in three vehicles shooting at premises along their way with the air guns around the city centre, Inanam, Luyang and Penampang between 11.45pm on Friday and 6am yesterday.

Among the premises hit were banks, hotels, beauty salons, restaurants, offices, a petrol station and shopping mall with losses amounting to thousands of ringgit.

No unwanted incident or casualty was reported in the one-hour shooting spree, which also caused massive panic in social media such as Facebook and WhatsApp.

Many shops and business premises were reported to have closed early yesterday following the incident.

City police chief ACP Jauteh Dikun said glass doors and windows of 25 premises around the city centre, Inanam and Luyang were damaged.

He said based on initial police investigation, it was believed the act was carried out simultaneously by more than six youths in three groups.

"Early investigations at some of the scenes found marbles and police believed the group used three air guns loaded with marbles as bullets.

"No casualty was reported in any of the incidents and police are working round the clock to identify the suspects," he said at a press conference at the city police headquarters in Karamunsing here yesterday.

He said 13 of the affected premises were located in the city centre, nine in Luyang and three in Inanam.

Among the 13 premises in the city centre are Agro Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and Maxis outlet in Warisan Square, Malar Hotel in Karamunsing, Ambank in Damai, Pizza Hut in Damai, Peral Karaoke in Damai and Public Bank and CIMB Bank in Inanam.

Elaborating further, Jauteh said police believed the culprits were split into three smaller groups to carry out the vandalism.

"Investigation is still being carried out to identify the suspects but based on several close circuit television (CCTV) footages, the groups were using two four-wheel-drive vehicles and a car," he said.

Meanwhile, Jauteh said the incident was not linked to Sulu armed groups or the ongoing Lahad Datu intrusion trial.

"This act is performed by a group of irresponsible teenagers solely intended to seek attention and cause anxiety to the public.

"I therefore urge the public not to panic following the incident and do not spread any rumors without first checking with the police," he said, adding that over 20 police reports had been lodged at the city police headquarters following the incident.

He also urged anyone with information to contact the city police hotline at 088-221 191.

The case is being investigated under Section 427 of the Penal Code for committing mischief and thereby causing damage.

Meanwhile, six premises in Penampang were also damaged in the shooting spree.

Penampang police chief DSP Ratan Kumar Singh, when contacted yesterday, said among the affected areas were Dongonggon, Beverly Hills and Bundusan.

He said the incident happened between 4am and 6am yesterday, which destroyed glass doors and windows of six premises, namely two banks, a car showroom, a petrol station, a restaurant and a shopping mall.

Ratan said police were still investigating the motive of the incident and believed the same group of people was also involved in a similar incident earlier in the state capital.

"I urge the public not to panic and to contact the Penampang police hotline at 088-712 222 if they have any information relating to this case," he said.

Print Friendly

To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.

Mohammad: ESSCom to ensure Tanduo incident not repeated

Posted: 11 Jan 2014 11:49 AM PST

LAHAD DATU: The Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom), the agency entrusted with security on the east coast of Sabah, is taking various measures including monitoring and integrated intelligence work, to ensure last year's incidence of intrusion by terrorists in Kampung Tanduo, here, does not recur.

"We are thankful because no intrusion has taken place after Tanduo," said ESSCom director-general Datuk Mohammad Mentek in a statement here yesterday.

He was commenting on a statement by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar yesterday on the triumph of the security forces in thwarting an intrusion attempt into the waters of Sabah two weeks ago.

Khalid was quoted as saying that the speedy action of the police (PDRM), Armed Forces of Malaysia (ATM) and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) foiled the attempt.

He also said the murder-kidnap case involving Taiwanese tourists at Pulau Pom-Pom last year was a wake up call to the security forces to hike up security in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone).

An intrusion by terrorists in Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu in February last year resulted in eight policemen and two soldiers being killed.

On the matter, Mohammad said PDRM and ATM under ESSCom, and the close collaboration of the MMEA was in line with the concept of the National Blue Ocean Strategy towards ensuring national security.

He said that it was crucial the people alerted the authorities on any security threat but at the same time not to entertain rumours.

"Currently, under Ops Gasak ESSCom, via public tip offs and integrated action, we are able to deter further kidnapping attempts in the waters of Sabah,'' he said.

ESSCom covers Kudat, Kota Marudu, Pitas, Beluran, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau. — Bernama

Print Friendly

To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.

Musa calls for calm

Posted: 11 Jan 2014 08:49 AM PST

KENINGAU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman has advised the people not to be alarmed and panicked over the shooting incidents around Kota Kinabalu city late Friday night which broke the glass panes of several buildings.

Musa, who is also chairman of the State Security Council, said the public should remain calm because the police were investigating the case thoroughly and monitoring the situation.

"The police are now making further investigation. What is important is that the people do not panic and remain calm. We have confidence in the capability of the security forces in tackling the problem," he said after visiting construction work on the bridge at Kampung Bandukan, Bingkor, here yesterday.

Meanwhile, Luyang assemblyman Hiew King Cheu also urged the public to refrain from speculating and spreading the news about the shooting spree.

As the incidents were being investigated by the police, he said it was not wise to speculate and make wild guesses as it would only create unnecessary fear among the community.

"Posting the incidents all over Facebook and the Internet is also unwise as it might give out the wrong message that will eventually result in creating fear and affect the State's tourism business," he added.

Hiew said the public should let the police carry out their investigation.

"Keep a closer watch on any suspects in the area and the police should increase their patrol rounds with more personnel to safeguard the people.

"RELA members should also turn up in full force to help patrol the area more regularly and keep a closer watch during the night," he said.

Api-Api assemblwoman Chritina Liew also urged city dwellers to stay calm.

"Let the authority do their job and investigate who is behind this so-called shooting spree," she said.

"I have spoken to the city police chief and he assured me that the police are doing their level best to investigate the case. We know the news is circulating like hot fire on the Internet, Facebook and WhatsApp right now, whether it is the work of naughty boys or organised crime…I urge the people not to panic.

"We are confident that the police will be able to track down the culprits. I also call on the police to step up security measures across the state, not only in the city. It seems the crime rate is escalating," she said.

Liew said it brought great concern among the people and she hoped the Barisan Nasional government, especially the assemblymen, would step in and help the police in their area to curb crimes.

Print Friendly

To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.

CM urges youths to take up government jobs

Posted: 11 Jan 2014 08:48 AM PST

by Johan Aziz. Posted on January 12, 2014, Sunday

KENINGAU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman yesterday urged locals, especially from Sook, to take up employment opportunities provided by the government.

He said most of the residents in the area were not interested to work in industries that required technical skills and a lot of them depended on subsistence farming.

"Working in an industry which requires skills is not easy because employees have to work from morning to night," he said after a briefing on the Keningau Integrated Livestock Centre (KILC) in Sook.

Musa, who was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Infrastructure Development, Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan was on a one-day working visit to the district.

He called on the management of the centre, Sawit Kinabalu Group, to encourage more local residents, especially the youth in the area to work at the centre.

"I also suggest that the management provide training for the youths who are interested before they start work. This will at least be able to gauge their interest in the industry.

"The centre was established in Sook to provide employment opportunities for the local people, but unfortunately many of them are not interested," he said.

In this regard, Musa said he would enlist the assistance of Sook assemblyman Datuk Ellron Alfred Angin to encourage the youth in the area to work at the centre.

He said working at the centre was not difficult but only required hard work as well as persistence to work.

At the same time, he also asked the management to find experts to improve the management of the centre.

"They must work together to solve this problem. I believe that with the spirit of cooperation through proper planning it could bring results, " he said.

The Chief Minister also asked the district officer, including the heads of government departments, to stop giving souvenirs to ministers, assistant ministers and other leaders as it is a waste of money and time.

Earlier in her briefing, Sawit Kinabalu Group Officer Mary Ku said that KILC was promoted by Sabah Economic Development & Investment Authority (SEDIA) as a centre to spearhead the development of the cattle industry in Sabah.

She said KILC is part of the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) promoted by the State and Federal Governments.

"With the objective of becoming a model dairy farm and producer of cattle and beef, KILC also envisions itself to be the premier breeding centre for dairy and beef cattle in spearheading the Sabah cattle industry in a sustainable and competitive manner with the mission to produce top quality dairy and beef breeders for the development of the Sabah cattle industry.

"This RM120 million project started in 2012 and is divided into two phases in which the Federal Government invested RM57 million on the infrastructure with 500 heads of pregnant heifers and 10 bulls under phase 1," she said.

Mary said that in the last quarter of 2013, the state government had entrusted Sawit Kinabalu Group as the premier state investment arm to take over and manage the project.

According to her, Sawit Kinabalu is taking up the challenge to meet the objectives of KILC to increase the milking herd to 2,000 heads by the year 2016 and to improve the milk production per cow to more than 15 litres per day with a lactating period of 300 days.

Also present at the event were Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Ellron Alfred Angin, Tenom member of parliament Datuk Raime Unggi, district officer Mohd Yusof Osman and Sawit Kinabalu Group managing director Datuk Othman Walat.

Print Friendly

To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.

IRB breaks Largest Coral Planting record

Posted: 11 Jan 2014 08:47 AM PST

by Sandra Sokial. Posted on January 12, 2014, Sunday

KOTA KINABALU: The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) entered the year 2014 in style when they broke the Largest Coral Planting record yesterday, and secured a place in the Malaysia Book of Records.

The effort was carried out by 107 divers from the IRB, 12 from the Sabah Parks and 10 dive masters, planting a total of 3,040 corals at Manukan Island, about 20 minutes boat ride from the mainland.

Describing it as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) project, IRB chief executive officer Tan Sri Dr Mohd Shukor Mahfar said it was their second project aimed at promoting environmental conservation, particularly on marine biodiversity.

"The first was held at the Perhentian Island in Kuala Terengganu last year where 63 trained scuba divers from IRB dived with 37 biodiversity beacons to the seabed to replace damaged corals within the area," he said.

He earlier disclosed that the project was initiated following a chat with Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun just a few months ago.

"This event is even made memorable as it is conducted when Sabah Parks is also celebrating its 50th anniversary. We believe that this project is our pride as it would benefit us as we help to preserve and conserve the environment, besides encouraging the production of the marine life," he said.

MBOR managing director Datuk Danny Ooi announced the new record yesterday and presented IRB with a certificate.

Masidi described the effort as a recognition for Sabah. He urged other government bodies or private companies to emulate IRB's good work.

"We were told that last year, we recorded 400,000 arrivals to the TAR islands. The more people coming in, the more impact it would cause to the environment. And while we welcome them, it is a challenge for us to ensure that we are able to minimize the risk to our ecosystem and nature.

"Every Malaysian should understand that preserving and conserving the environment is our joint responsibility. Everyone must play a part because the environment belongs to us," he said.

Also present were Sabah Parks Board of Trustees chairman Datuk Tengku D Z Adlin and director Paul Basintal.

Print Friendly

To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.

Shooting spree uncalled for – Lam Thye

Posted: 11 Jan 2014 08:46 AM PST

KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) vice chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye has described the shooting spree, targeting at several business premises here, in Inanam and Penampang as an irresponsible act.

He said it should be left to the police to carry out the necessary investigation and identify the culprits.

"The incident was totally uncalled for as it would only create unnecessary fear and tension among the people in view of the current security situation in the state," he said yesterday.

In the wake of the incident, he said the police force should now reinforce their presence and assign more police personnel along with other agencies to increase their patrols on the streets.

Meanwhile, Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) president Datuk Michael Lui has expressed concern over the shooting incident which damaged the glass doors and glass walls of many banks and shops.

He said the incident had also sparked rumours and caused panic among the people.

Hence, Lui urged the relevant security authorities, namely the police, to expedite investigation into the motives of the shooting and take effective measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

He also hoped that the police would arrest those involved as soon as possible in order to ease the people's anxiety.

On the other hand, Lui urged the people to remain calm and not to spread rumours about the incident.

He believes the police are competent and have sufficient manpower to handle this case.

Print Friendly

To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.