MP SANDAKAN (DAP) CRITICIZED CREDIBLELITY OF ESSCOM

By DAP Staff

Media Statement by DAP Sabah Deputy Chairman cum MP for Sandakan Stephen Wong Tien Fatt in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, 16 June 2014:

DAP: Abduction cases repeatedly take place in Sabah shows no progress in ESSCOM

KUALA LUMPUR:- According to Utusan Malaysia Online, another abduction case has taken place in Sabah. It is reported that a fish farm operator and a Filipino worker were abducted by a group of men in Kampung Air Sepang, Kunak at this morning.

It is shocked and upset when I hear the abduction case has AGAIN happened in Sabah. It has repeatedly taken place in such short time, at least three times within this year. While the Chinese tourist has been rescued in last month, yet the similar kidnap case has taken place in Kunak and Lahad Datu few weeks ago. I strongly condemn the federal government had once again shown its failure to provide security in East Coast Sabah.

It is seemed like the armed men have abducted the people without meeting any obstacle. They just simply enter our land and kidnap our people then left easily. Why is it so easy and free for them to enter our land? Why there is no any defense authorities patrolling? Why no radar can detect their intrusion and realize their action?

It has once again reminded us ESSCOM could not perform well and no progress despite many efforts by government to strengthen the security in ESSCOM with additional allocation.

Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman has just said in 22 May that the government has allocated another additional 30 multi-purpose boats to be located at high-risk spots (red spots) for use in ESSCOM, besides he also promised to boost the security in ESSZONE by increase assets, deploy more security personnel etc. Despite so many efforts had been carried out, but yet there is no any progress has been achieved to avoid similar intrusion to east coast Sabah.

I would like to call on the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Home Minister Datuk Ahmad Zahid and Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman to be responsible on this matter. Especially Ahmad Zahid who failed to protect Sabahans must resign to show responsibility. Let someone who is more capable to handle this issue to take place.

It has clearly shown that the urgency to debate on ESSCOM thoroughly and comprehensively in parliament as well as state assembly for allowing the representatives from both BN and PR side to discuss on this issue.

On 11 June 2014, I together with MP for Kota Kinabalu Jimmy Wong Sze Phin and MP for Lumut Laksamana Imran had handed a memorandum to Prime Minister, received by the minister of PM’s department Datuk Seri Shahidan Hassim on Pakatan Rakyat’s suggestions to ESSCOM.

Did PM read our memorandum? We had listed 8 suggestions including resolve corruption as well as institutional problem, increase the troop deployment percentage in Sabah and etc. We are suggesting a more comprehend way to review the whole system of ESSCOM, instead of merely increase the assets in ESSCOM, which cannot really resolve the problem.

I would like to urge the federal government which had promised to release RCI report on illegal immigrants investigation in Sabah at May this year, must immediately release the report to resolve this deemed to be the “Mother of problem” in Sabah.

It is not secret that the illegal immigrant had involved in the past abduction cases and the intrusion by Sulu army last year. Therefore, if this problem cannot be resolved, the issue like abduction will be continue to happen or becoming worse in the future.

I hope the government takes this issue seriously by release the RCI report immediately.