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Sabah Customs seizes Syabu worth RM400,330, woman from China nabbed BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

Sabah Customs seizes Syabu worth RM400,330, woman from China nabbed

Posted: 09 Jul 2014 12:24 PM PDT

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Customs seized Syabu, weighing two kg and valued at RM400.330, from a woman of Chinese nationality at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) last Sunday night.

Sabah Customs Department director Datuk Dr Janathan Kandok said the drugs were found at a specific portion of the woman's baggage by KKIA customs officers upon inspection before she was arrested at about 11.30pm.

"The suspect, aged 24, who was boarding a direct AirAsia flight from Hong Kong to Kota Kinabalu is detained for further investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act," he told reporters at Wisma Kastam here yesterday.

He said it was the second such seizure within the last 15 days after the first one last June 26.

Initial investigation revealed it was the suspect's second entry to the country this year.

Meanwhile Dr Janathan said Sabah Customs recorded nine drug smuggling cases from 2012 until now, involving the arrest of 12 suspects from various nationalities including from China and India, with eight being charged in court.

He said the overall market value of the drugs seized during that period was about RM4.6 million. — Bernama

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LDP suspends Liew, 12 others

Posted: 09 Jul 2014 09:35 AM PDT

KOTA KINABALU: The Disciplinary Committee of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) announced yesterday that the party membership of former party president Datuk Liew Vui Keong and 12 others will be suspended for three years.

Senator Datuk Chin Su Phin, who heads the Disciplinary Committee, said members in the committee reached a unanimous decision to suspend the 13 members during its second meeting to deliberate on this matter yesterday.

Members of the Disciplinary Committee who were present at the meeting include Chin, Datuk John Su, Fon Keng Sin and John Lee Tshun Vui, while another member Lim Kong Yuk was outstation.

Chin, who is also LDP deputy president, said Liew and the suspended members were banned from releasing press statements, organizing official and community activities in the name of LDP during the three-year suspension period.

The other 12 suspended members are Loretto S. Padua, Datuk Kwan Wing Hung, Tiong King Kiong, Lee Hing Huat, Yap Ma Chun, Cheong Kwek Leong, Lee Ching Seng, Michael David Tsen, Lee Chiew Fah, Chang Chai Sin, Jennite Chan Yee Nan and Lee Chun Boon.

Chin informed that the Disciplinary Committee has received numerous written complaints from party members that these individuals have been engaging in behaviours and activities that bring disrepute and cause damage to the party.

He said members have also questioned the committee as to why the party did not take action against these members who have blatantly violated the party's constitution, especially Liew, who has repeatedly made detrimental statements in the press and even written to government departments using the party letterhead without authorization.

As such, Chin said the Disciplinary Committee had issued show cause letters to Liew and the 12 members on June 20 this year, along with a request for a written explanation to be submitted within the next 14 days.

"Most of the 13 members have responded and refuted the allegations; while some of them replied that the Disciplinary Committee has no authority to issue the show cause letters," Chin said after chairing the meeting.

Chin reiterated that some 460 of the total delegates of more than 700 attended the party's Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on October 6 last year, where they passed the resolution to suspend the party membership of Liew and Loretto pending action by the Disciplinary Committee.

In the party congress cum election on October 19 and 20 last year, the delegates voted for the party leadership headed by Datuk Teo Chee Kang and Chin as the party president and deputy president respectively.

Results of the party election and documents pertaining to the congress have been submitted to the Registrar of Societies (ROS), Chin said.

On January 2 this year, after a two-month investigation, the ROS issued an official letter endorsing the party congress and election held on October 19 and 20. However, Chin said Liew refused to recognize the legitimacy of the party leadership headed by Teo.

Although the Court of Appeal here had upheld the High Court's verdict in dismissing Liew's application for leave for judicial review to revoke the ROS' decision, Liew insisted on pursuing his legal battle to the Federal Court.

"Well, he is free to do what he wants," Chin said.

Chin disclosed that Liew had even sought a court order in an attempt to get the ROS to issue a show cause notice to LDP to provide reasons why the party should not be de-registered in his application for leave for judicial review.

"His actions could have torn apart LDP!"

Chin said the Disciplinary Committee called for a second meeting yesterday to deliberate on the individuals, including Liew, who have engaged in activities and behaviours that violated the party's constitution.

"The Disciplinary Committee members have reached a unanimous decision to suspend the party membership of Datuk Liew Vui Keong and 12 other members for three years."

Under the party's constitution, Chin said the suspended members, including Liew, could appeal to the Supreme Council if they disagreed with the decision of the Disciplinary Committee.

However, Chin warned that the suspended members may face termination of their party membership if they refuse to abide to the Disciplinary Committee's decision and continue engaging in activities that could harm the party.

Apart from the ROS' endorsement, Chin said the new party leadership led by Teo has also received the blessing and recognition from Prime Minister cum Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Hence, Chin urged Liew to stop misleading party members and the public.

On the other hand, he said government departments and community associations can verify with the LDP headquarters if they are in doubt about the letters received or are approached by questionable individuals.

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Another China woman held, RM400,000 syabu seized

Posted: 09 Jul 2014 09:35 AM PDT

by Elton Gomes. Posted on July 10, 2014, Thursday

KOTA KINABALU: Barely 15 days after a woman from China was arrested for smuggling drugs into the state capital, the Customs Department foiled another attempt after detaining a Chinese woman for smuggling two kilograms of methamphetamine or syabu valued at RM400,000 at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA-T2) on Sunday.

The 24-year-old suspect, who had flown in from Hong Kong at 11.25pm, was nabbed after Customs enforcement officers detected the drug hidden inside the suspect's luggage after going through the scanning machine.

State Customs director Datuk Janathan Kandok said the modus operandi of the syndicate was similar to the previous case on June 22.

"Investigation shows the drug was wrapped in a plastic bag and hidden inside a secret compartment of the luggage.

"Further investigation revealed that the crystal-like substance is believed to be Methamphetamine, weighing about 2kg and valued around RM400,000," he told a press conference at the State Customs Department headquarters here yesterday.

Janathan said investigation revealed that the suspect had flown in from Hong Kong on an AirAsia flight before taking the next flight to Peninsular.

He said the suspect had been remanded for investigation under Section 39B (1) (a) of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952 for drug trafficking which carried the death penalty upon conviction.

This is the second such case in less than a month where on June 22, a 21-year-old woman from China was caught smuggling about 4.8 kilograms of Methamphetamine valued at RM930,000 at KKIA-T 2.

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Sabah tourism backtracks 10 years , says SATTA

Posted: 09 Jul 2014 09:34 AM PDT

KOTA KINABALU: The tourism sector in Sabah has backtracked by over 10 years due to the recent spate of kidnappings, said Sabah Association of Tour and Travel Agents (SATTA) chairman Dato' Seri Winston Liaw.

Liaw said there had been signs that our tourism sector was recovering lately, but then Sabah was hit by another kidnapping attempt by seven armed men at a caged fish farm in Kampung Bangau-Bangau, Semporna on July 7.

Fortunately, the owner of the fish farm had spent the night in the town area and escaped from being kidnapped.

Liaw urged the enforcement agencies to 'talk less, do more' in their efforts to beef up the security in Sabah.

'The seven armed men seemed to be going in and out of Sabah waters freely, which shows that there is still much work to be done by our government."

Nonetheless, Liaw said he was confident with the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom), when asked to comment on its restructuring by setting up two major components – security and defence management as well as enforcement and public action.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the security and defence management component was aimed at pooling the resources of security agencies to enhance operational effectiveness.

This component would be led by an ESSCom commander who heads three special divisions, namely intelligence, security and defence as well as operations.

Najib also announced the appointment of ESSCom Security and Public Order Division director DCP Datuk Abd Rashid Harun as the ESSCom commander in charge of the intelligence, security and defence as well as operations division in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) effective July 15.

Liaw believed that having an experienced commander in ESSCom would help to solve security related issues efficiently.

He continued to say that the tourism industry in Sabah has backtracked to how it was in 2001 and 2002, before the influx of Chinese tourists into Sabah, due to the recent abduction cases.

To overcome the dwindling number of Chinese tourist arrivals, Liaw, who is also the managing director of Airworld Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd, said the travel agency would provide chartered flights to attract Chinese tourists into the State and to stimulate the local tourism sector.

In addition, Liaw said promotion efforts would be carried out to reassure tourists that the west coast of Sabah is safe to visit in order to speed up the recovery time of the local tourism industry.

At the same time, he hoped that locals would support the chartered flight service because without the support from both sides, the chartered flight service to Sabah could not be implemented.

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Call for Sabahan role as ESSCom revamp raises hopes

Posted: 09 Jul 2014 09:34 AM PDT

by Rebecca Chong. Posted on July 10, 2014, Thursday

KOTA KINABALU: The restructuring of Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Tuesday, received mixed responses rom leaders and the public.

Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Kamarlin Ombi said the move to restructure ESSCom was proof that the federal government was serious in handing the safety issues in the east coast of Sabah.

"The restructuring of ESSCom also shows that the federal government now realized the risk and danger the east coast of Sabah is facing," he said.

The restructuring involved the setting up of two major components of ESSCom, namely the Security and Defence Management, as well as Enforcement and Public Action.

Under the Security and Defence components, ESSCom Security and Public Order Division director cum deputy commissioner of police Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun was appointed to lead four special divisions which include the Intelligence, Security, Defence and Operation divisions.

Kamarlin also commented that the restructuring was implemented at the right time as it was time to strengthen the security of Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone).

"We hope the restructuring of ESSCom could give a positive impact to security in Sabah," he said while adding that cooperation from all parties, including the local community and security forces, was vital to contribute to the effectiveness of ESSCom.

Commenting on the Prime Minister's announcement to enforce designated routes for boats entering Sabah waters, Kamarlin said the enforcement should have been implemented a long time ago as it would block illegal entrances to our country.

"With the enforcement of the designated routes for boats, people from the Philippines can only enter the country through the legal paths," he added.

Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister cum Sabah Umno Women deputy chief Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid sees the restructuring as a holistic approach by the government to enhance the safety and security of ESSZone.

"It is still not too late to take the initiative in overcoming kidnapping problems in Sabah. The kidnapping incidents are 'wake-up calls' to everyone, not only to the security forces but to members of the public," she said, adding that security was a responsibility that everyone had to bear.

Sabah Umno Women chief Datuk Armani Mahiruddin also welcomed the restructuring as it would enhance existing policies and laws.

"We are all aware that since ESSCom was formed, many policies had been introduced. However, the policies that we have now may have loop-holes. Therefore with the new ESSCom structure and new policies, it is hoped that the security personnel would be more focused in implementing their tasks and keep ESSZone safe," she said.

Armani also said the implementation of new policies would not have any effect on the security of the east coast of Sabah if it did not receive any support from Sabahans.

"I urge the people of Sabah to believe in our security forces," she added.

Another positive comment was made by a local, Oliver Brendan, who said the appointment Abdul Rashid was good and timely and he expressed hope that with the appointment, a more comprehensive and effective plan would be put in place to protect Sabah's east coast from kidnapping threats as well as from armed intruders.

"I also hope with this new appointment, a better coordination between all security agencies will see more assets being deployed to enhance border patrols, especially around Sabah's vast coastline. I think more frequent patrols, both by sea and air, will be quite effective to curtail any foreign threats," he added.

Oliver also said the new appointment could help the public regain confidence with ESSCom which had thus far been seen as ineffective in its role.

"It is my hope as a Sabahan that this new ESSCom commander will address any previous weaknesses and do what is necessary to enhance Sabah's security in the east coast, and put an end to the cross border kidnapping threat that is affecting our tourism industry as well as investors' confidence," he said.

ESSZone Youth Community Associations chairman Mohd Zaki Harry Susanto said vital positions in ESSCom should be held by Sabahans.

"A Sabahan, especially those from the east coast of Sabah, would better understand the local socio-culture, language and dialects, domestic needs, socio-politics as well as other elements," he said.

Zaki said a Sabahan would adapt to the surroundings faster and build relationship networks easier than those not from Sabah.

"We welcome the restructuring of ESSCom but we hope the restructuring would consider the local community's demand and sensitivity, who want to see a local to be given space and opportunity to play a role in ESSCom," he said.

Datuk Patrick Sindu, a Sabah social activist, said the drastic restructuring of ESSCom should not be eliminating personnel from Sabah serving on ESSCom.

"We welcome the restructuring of ESSCom, but not to the extent that most of the officers from Sabah are eliminated from ESSCom. I hope this will not happen as kidnapping cases have been on-going in Semporna and Lahad Datu since 2000. The restructuring of ESSCom does not 100 per cent guarantee that there will not be another kidnapping case," he said.

Patrick also expressed hope that the chief secretary to the government of Malaysia would take into consideration Sabahans' rights in restructuring ESSCom, especially the civil servants.

The same comment also came from former PAS member of parliament candidate Hamzah Abdullah, who said important positions in ESSCom should be held by a Sabahan, as a local leader would understand ESSZone and the surrounding communities better.

Hamzah also said the appointment of a deputy commissioner in ESSCom would bring no difference.

"Whether or not it is the police who is in the position does not matter. ESSCom should increase the effectiveness of our security's intelligence division as we now have 'insiders' who leak vital information to the intruders," he said while emphasizing that ESSCom should gear up its intelligence team.

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Call for Sabah parties to get cabotage policy scrapped

Posted: 09 Jul 2014 09:33 AM PDT

KOTA KINABALU: All political parties in Sabah should work together to ensure the abolishment of the cabotage policy before the year of 2020.

Kota Kinabalu Member of Parliament Jimmy Wong yesterday said that the cabotage policy is the reason why Sabah is backwards in terms of development when compared to other states in Peninsular Malaysia.

He said the cabotage policy, among others, had resulted in higher costs for businesses to operate in Sabah.

"Although investors are keen to come, the cost of doing business is simply too high. Despite the available labour, they still would not come for the same reason," he lamented.

Aside from the high costs of doing business in Sabah, Wong said the prices of goods, including properties, have also been high, all thanks to the cabotage policy.

"For 30 years, there has been unending calls for the abolishment of the cabotage policy, which only benefits a few Malaysian shipping companies/agencies," he alleged.

The victims of the cabotage policy are the common folks residing in Sabah who have to pay more for the same services and goods, he said.

Jimmy added Malaysia should emulate Singapore, Japan and Australia, which do not have a cabotage policy.

"Yet, their shipping industry is thriving," he said.

He added that after 30 years of protection, the shipping industry in Malaysia should already be able to stand on their own feet instead of being protected by the policy.

"If those who have received protection after 30 years are still not independent … how can we strive towards a high income nation? This government policy hinders the growth of the nation," he said.

He reminded that there are many small industries in Sabah and they have never received such protection.

"They had to operate in unfavorable conditions. They had to pay high electricity and water rate as compared to industries established in Peninsular Malaysia. The poor and the common folks residing in rural Sabah are the ones that have to pay the highest price," he said.

"Even from birth, Sabahans already have to pay 30 percent more for the cost of living here as compared to Peninsular Malaysia," Jimmy said.

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