No reason not to revive Border Scouts
Published on: Friday, January 13, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: The defunct Border Scouts should be revived because having Sabah's own regiment in the Armed Forces reflects the mind of most Sabahans when it comes to the State's defence and security control.Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) Secretary General Loretto Padua Jr said the idea of Sabah having its own regiment in the ATM or at least to revive the Border Scouts was first mooted in 2013 during the Tanduo intrusion incident."During that time, many Sabahans were anxious and concerned by the lengthy negotiation between the Federal security forces and the intruders, to the point that many from both the BN and opposition sides said it is better for Sabah to have its own regiment to protect the land," he said.
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He added that having an own regiment by reviving the Sabah Border Scouts is crucial because only the local boys know the terrains in Sabah better than anyone else."Besides, our locals' physique and mental faculties are better equipped to handle the vigorous and treacherous terrains which are being compounded by unpredictable weather in the dense jungle of Sabah to the point that what may seem to be a hellish environment for many, is quite natural to them."This is why the Sabah Border Scouts which was set up by the British Government won the respect from the world's best elite forces such as the SAS and Gurkhas during the Confrontation years," he explained.Padua, who is also a member of Wataniah, however, is quick to point it out that he is by no means looking down on the members of security forces from Malaya.
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"I fully appreciate all the sacrifices made by our security forces from Malaya when some of them lost their limbs or even lives in order to protect Sabah."But surely our Federal Government or Defence Ministry knows that many Sabahans would love to help protect Sabah from intrusion, kidnapping, poaching and so on through a regiment that carries the pride of the Sabahans," he said.
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He added that the Gurkhas have their own regiment in the British Army and consequently performed their duty for the Queen without any hesitation because they are proud to serve in their own world-renowned regiment."So imagine if our local boys from Keningau, Pensiangan, Nabawan serve in a revived regiment that was once highly respected by the SAS and Gurkhas?"Would not that mean that they will perform their responsibility for the King, Nation and State with great pride and loyalty knowing that all Sabahans are fully behind them?"Would not that mean that the SAS and Gurkhas will invite our local boys under a revived Sabah Border Guard for a joint combat training and thus in turn opening the possibility for our own local Sabahan boys to be known as one of world's greatest elite forces?" he said.He believed that if the proud and patriotic local boys serve in the Sabah Border Scouts, train with world's top elite forces and deploy at the East Coast to prevent intrusion and kidnapping, even the Abu Sayaff would think twice before coming here again.He added that just a few days ago, Warisan Deputy President and Penampang MP Darell Leiking called for a more stringent border control on Sebatik Island."Would it not have been better if we had our Sabah Border Scout to be deployed there too?" he said.As the first step, Padua said he and Darell are now mulling to bring the issue to Parliament in March because as a Sabahan, he truly believes that it is going to be a regiment which Sabahans would be extremely proud of.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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