Sabah security needs improvement

Sabah security needs improvement

Jaswinder Kaur, New Straits Times, Kuala Lumpur

Although the government spent millions to beef up security on
the east coast after Malaysians and foreign tourists were
abducted from Pulau Sipadan and Pulau Pandanan three years ago, a
third kidnapping happened again on Oct. 5.

Sabah dailies and national newspapers front-paged reports of
the incident at the Borneo Paradise Eco Farm Resort in Kunak,
showing how serious the issue is.

Initially it was reported that the kidnapping could be the
work of local criminals and later, there was indication that
locals may have received help from "outsiders".

For three weeks, there was no sign of the six victims or of
the gunmen although security forces had mounted massive air, sea
and land search for them.

Each time the authorities were asked about the matter,
reporters were told that the gunmen and the hostages could still
be within territorial waters and that the search was on-going.

Then, eco farm resort receptionist Novelito Arcosel, 19, was
rescued in Tawi Tawi in the southern Philippines last week.

The fact that Novelito was in the Philippines gives strong
indication that if local bandits were indeed involved, they did
get help from outsiders.

The hard work put in by security forces was shattered in a
matter of minutes when the abduction took place, but they are not
to be wholly blamed. Sabah has, after all, a coastline of 1,440
kilometers with the South China Sea in the west and north, the
Sulu Sea in the northeast and the Celebes Sea in the southeast.

There are many islands and estuaries making them perfect
hideouts for those with criminal intentions, and difficult for
security forces to guard every inch.

The other issue is that locals continue to hire foreigners
without first checking their background. Although a majority work
in Sabah to improve their livelihood, some probably have
connections back home and are willing to provide information to
bad hats to make a quick buck.

Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman, who is also State Security
Council chairman, pointed out that employers involved in the
tourism industry must check the background of their workers,
especially those hired as security guards.

"Tourism operators should also constantly monitor security
guards that they have hired," Musa had said several days after
the kidnapping.

The issue of hiring foreign guards was highlighted by Deputy
Defense Minister Shafie Apdal when police detained for
questioning a foreigner employed as a security guard.

The man had managed to escape from the gunmen, raising
suspicion that he may have been involved. However, he was later
freed.

Musa had also suggested that resorts at islands and coastal
areas which were not guarded by security forces, should have up-
to-date telecommunication facilities to raise the alarm should
there be an intrusion.

Tourism players reacted positively to this suggestion, with
some calling on the government to follow up on the matter.

Whatever steps that the government plans to take following the
incident, it should get the support of the private sector and the
public at large.

The people should be sensitive and report to the authorities
if they are suspicious about happenings in their surroundings.

The first two abductions did have negative implication on the
local tourism industry, which at that time was just picking up
after the regional financial crisis.

Although there has been minimal impact on tourism after the
latest incident, Sabah cannot afford a fourth kidnapping.