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Activist urges authorities to act tough on boats, vessels BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

Activist urges authorities to act tough on boats, vessels

Posted: 06 Apr 2014 03:05 PM PDT

TAWAU: A local social activist has urged the relevant authorities to act tough on boats and vessels entering Semporna waters by tightening checks on the substance they carry.

Salman Nurillah said it was crucial for the enforcement authorities to not just concentrate on intercepting illegal entry by foreigners via boats and vessels.

"The boats and vessels could be carrying concealed firearms. We cannot be lax in this issue. The latest kidnap case at Singamata Adventures Reef and Resort by armed men should be a stern reminder to us," he said in a statement here yesterday.

According to him, the kidnappers could have smuggled in the weapons earlier, by boat or other vessels prior to the incident.

"The smooth execution of the cross border crime seems to indicate that firearms could be easily smuggled in, undetected," he said.

Salman, a former civil servant who holds a law degree from the University of Malaya and a masters degree from UiTM, also urged the attorney general to accord more authority to the Eastern Sabah Security Command (EssCom) director general.

He said it was crucial for EssCom to have more clout to effectively safeguard the people's security and country's sovereignty. – Bernama

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28 more Rukun Tetangga to be set up in Sabah

Posted: 05 Apr 2014 04:52 PM PDT

by Alen Kee. Posted on April 6, 2014, Sunday

TAWAU: The Rukun Tetangga (RT or Neighbourhood Watch) needs new ideas to bring about a RT transformation concept in line with the changes in social communities today.

Deputy Minister of Education 1, Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching said she is confident that the Department of National Unity and Integrity of Malaysia (JPNIN) will always come up with new ideas to highlight concepts or working culture and RT management that are much better and efficient.

She said JPNIN had many plans that are balance towards the community and this proved the department had carried out the responsibility that was entrusted to it.

Mary said the RT concept has been in existence for a long time with the aim to encourage unity and cooperation among the community through programs that were held.

She praised the JPNIN Tawau branch and the Tawau and Kunak district RT for their high commitment in making the RT rally yesterday a success at Tawau Sports Complex multi purpose hall.

Mary also welcomed networking cooperation among JPNIN with other departments or agencies at state level for the well-being of residents.

She also recommended that the Volunteer Patrol Scheme (SRS) under the RT committee be continued at each respective RT areas to ensure the safety and well-being of the community.

"SRS should continue to improve and strengthen the spirit of cooperation and unity to face any threat that could undermine the well-being of the local people," she said.

She said with the formation of more RT committees, it is hoped that the community could be inspired to work harder, especially in ensuring unity and harmony.

There are 626 RT in Sabah with 214 SRS. In Tawau there are 38 RT with 16 having SRS and 23 more new RT targeted to be formed, while Kunak has 10 RT with 2 SRS and 5 targeted RT to be formed.

This brings to 28 the total number of new RT to be formed.

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ESSCom must admit to weaknesses and overcome them – Masidi

Posted: 05 Apr 2014 04:49 PM PDT

by Nancy Lai. Posted on April 6, 2014, Sunday

KOTA KINABALU: Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun has called on the relevant authorities to take serious steps to improve the state's security.

Commenting on the latest kidnapping incident involving two women victims at Singamata Reef Resort in Semporna, Masidi said it is high time that the security measures be reviewed.

"The fact that it happened literally a stone's throw away from Semporna should make the authorities do some serious soul-searching on whether the current security arrangement [can] address similar incidents in the future," Masidi stressed.

Masidi also took Deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to task for suggesting that all resorts on small islands in the east coast of Sabah should be closed following the latest kidnapping incident.

"I am not sure whether the Deputy Minister knows where Singamata Resort is. It is not on an isolated island, it is on a reef not more than 1.5km from the town of Semporna. In fact you can see the resort from the mainland with your naked eyes," Masidi said.

"It takes just about 15-20 minutes ride by boat from the Semporna jetty. While it is true that there is no 100 per cent guarantee of safety (of which there is none anywhere in the world), it is not an excuse for those in authority to 'wash their hands off' of the problem by suggesting a lame excuse," Masidi stressed.

Wan Junadi was reported as saying that resorts on isolated islands should be closed following the latest abduction case and this should be done for the safety of their customers.

He pointed out that no one can guarantee the safety of these places when they are situated far off the coast and added that the police as well as military cannot be there all the time.

Meanwhile Upko Youth movement Chief Arthur Sen when commenting on Wan Junaidi's statement was also of the opinion that the Home Ministry should not look for excuses for its failure to prevent the occurrence of abductions from Sabah's east coast.

"The excuse that Sabah's 1,400km coastline makes it difficult for the government to keep the east coast of the state safe is akin to a confession that the relevant authorities are unable to control and provide security to the people in that area," Arthur said.

He stressed that Sabah is dependent on its tourism industry and incidents like this will cause those working in the industry to lose their source of income.

"All this must be taken into consideration when the government increases its security assets in the east coast," Arthur added.

He opined that ESSCom must admit to its weaknesses and take immediate steps to improve because with all the sophisticated equipment and machinery it has, ESSCom should be ahead of the abductors.

"It is difficult to accept excuses made in order to cover up their own weaknesses," he stressed.

In the abduction case which happened on Thursday, Chinese tourist Gao Huayun, 29 and Filipino worker Marcy Dayawan @ Mimi, 40 were taken by armed men from the Singamata Reef Resort in Semporna.

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ESSCom warns resort operators against hiring illegals

Posted: 05 Apr 2014 04:49 PM PDT

by Azmie Lim. Posted on April 6, 2014, Sunday

LAHAD DATU: The Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) is determined to immediately purge all resorts in the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (ESSZone) of foreign workers without valid documents as they were potential informers to cross-border criminals.

Accordingly, ESSCom Director-General Datuk Mohammad Mentek said massive operations will be launched at identified island resorts in the near future following the kidnapping incident at a resort in Singamata Island, Semporna, last Wednesday.

"Based on the feedback from ESSCom intelligence and modes of operation used by the kidnappers, the criminals were obviously well aware of the ins and outs of the area, including the occupants of the resort.

"We suspect there are individuals, in particular the local people who came from the Philippines who provided early information to the kidnappers. This thing should not happen," he said in a statement yesterday.

In the latest kidnapping, a Chinese national and a Filipino resort worker were kidnapped from Singamata Adventures Reef and Resort by a group of seven gunman at 10:30 pm last Wednesday.

The victims were identified as Gao Hua Yua, 29, from Shanghai and resort worker Marcy Dayawan or Mimi, 40. The 60-room water resort located about two nautical miles from Semporna town has been operating for more than 10 years.

Mohammad also issued a warning that stern action will be taken against employers or resort operators in the ESSZone if it is proven that they hired foreign workers without valid documents.

He said that they had discussed the matter with resort operators and tourist centers in Sabah three times and made recommendations to the operators to install CCTV and hire security guards.

He added that all parties should be responsible for ensuring that the security situation in ESSZone was always controlled and secure.

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200 police cadets in 44th anniversary parade

Posted: 05 Apr 2014 03:53 PM PDT

KENINGAU: About 200 members of Police Cadet Corps from eight secondary schools here took part in a parade marking the 44th anniversary of the establishment of the Police Cadet Corps in the district at the district police headquarters here on Friday.

The schools were SMK Gunsanad, SMK Bingkor, SMK Keningau, SMK Ken Hwa, SM St Francis Xavier, SMK Apin-Apin, SMK Keningau II and SMK Gunsanad II.

The ceremony began with district police chief DSP Robert Salisip @ David inspecting guard of honour, followed by the hoisting of national flag and singing of the national anthem.

Robert then read a message from the Inspector General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, and presented certificated of appreciation from the District Education Department to the Police Cadet Corps of the eight secondary schools.

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