Ensure RM523m for Esscom is spent wisely: Lajim
Published on: Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: THE State Government should ensure the annual allocation of RM523 million for Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) is spent wisely on security assets that will have a huge bearing in building and strengthening security forces in guarding the East Coast.Opposition leader Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin said it is imperative significant spending is made on assets to further foil incursion attempts by kidnap groups or militants and jeopardising the State's sovereignty."We are thankful to the security forces for their sacrifice and responsibilities in protecting Sabah from any kind of intrusion, as well as cooperation from the local communities in complementing the efforts.ADVERTISEMENT "The curfew order that is being continuously enforced in the East Coast has shown us that security issues particularly outside threats are still at a serious level."This includes threats to kidnap foreign tourists and locals in the East Coast by militants from neighbouring countries to get millions in ransom money," he said when debating the State Budget 2016 at the State Legislative Assembly here on Monday.Lajim who is also Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sabah Chairman said the incidents have directly affected the State's tourism with many tourists cancelling their trips to Sabah due to security reasons.He said the threats have also jeopardised the national target of 30.5 million tourist arrivals to Malaysia with revenue of RM103 billion to the nation's economy.ADVERTISEMENT From 2000 to 2015, he said 12 kidnapping cases and attempts had occurred in the East Coast of Sabah."The most worrying part is when these kidnappers continue to change their tactics and expand their target of victims.
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"Now they do not target to kidnap their potential victims from resorts but also those in fishing vessels, or commercial ships, aquaculture operators, or 'bagang'."The relevant authorities need concrete planning and strategies that are beyond the way of thinking and schemes of the intruders including kidnappers," he said.At the same time, Lajim said the threat of enemies from within must be dealt with immediately.He said grave action must be taken against any element of negligence and non-compliance to the standard operating procedures that would give opportunities for militants and rebels to jeopardise the sovereignty of the country.Lajim also lamented that the National and State Budget 2016 did not give emphasis to follow-up on the RCI reports on illegal immigrant problems in Sabah."We analysed both budgets at State and Federal level and noted that both did not focus on following up the RCI report."We are highlighting this as the subject is a perennial issue that has long been plaguing the hearts and minds of the people in Sabah."The people are waiting in hope that there will some kind of concrete measure taken by the government from recommendations mentioned in the RCI and endorsed by the main committee on management of migrants in Sabah and Technical Committee that were formed as a result of the RCI report," he said.Lajim said no allocation was provided to address the perennial issue with no action taken by the government on those recommendations by the two committees mentioned in both budgets.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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Hence, he suggested that the State Assembly consider providing some slots in the proceedings to hear and endorse all the recommendations submitted to the two committees.He said further endorsement from the House would give a strong voice to those recommendations when these are forwarded to the central authority and the government would be able to plan their budget appropriately in implementing the recommendations.