Barter trade suspension necessary:Minister
Published on: Wednesday, June 01, 2016
Sandakan: Minister in the Prime Minister Department, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, said the suspension of barter trade activities in the wake of the latest cross-border kidnappings is necessary as the Government needs to look into and address security loopholes.He said nowadays, these kidnap-for-ransom groups are looking at "soft targets" and "soft areas" as their strategy."The 'soft targets' could be trawler boats and commercial vessels while the 'soft areas' are those situated near the international border," he told a press conference after a two-day official visit to the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) including Kudat and Tawau. He noted that the nation's security seems to be the target of the intruders and perpetrators to commit crime.
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"I will submit a proposal to the National Security Council (NSC) that countries should not allow intruders and perpetrators in."This should not happen especially in Asian countries and I will discuss this with them at the Asian level," he said.On April 6, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman who is also State Security Committee Chairman announced the suspension of all barter trade activities and petroleum and gas trade via vessels in the Esszone areas.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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They were among proactive measures taken by the State Government to ensure kidnapping incidents in the State waters do not recur.
