Sea curfew must stay: Azis
Published on: Saturday, September 15, 2018
Kota Kinabalu: Deputy Home Minister Datuk Azis Jamman (pic) said the sea curfew is still relevant as there was no kidnapping incident the last three years except recently. He, however, said it was very difficult to answer what went wrong. "Things happen and that's why they have to look at the current situation to see what went wrong," he said when asked about the kidnapping which took place within the curfew period in Semporna waters.The dusk-to-dawn sea curfew was first imposed four years ago and covers areas up to three nautical miles off Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Beluran.
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The latest kidnapping, which happened to a fishing boat licensed to operate within the curfew hours in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone), was the first to have taken place in Sabah this year. Azis said he was quite sure the current lack of budget in the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) has contributed to the lack of manpower in the area.He said it was also for this reason that he mentioned the need for more allocation to be given to Esscom during the last Dewan Rakyat sitting."With a vast sea stretching 1,400 sq kilometres to cover, Esscom needs a bigger budget to buy more assets," he added when met at the Malam Perpaduan Pemimpin Bersama Rakyat, in conjunction with the Malaysia Day 2018 celebration, here, Friday.
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The ceremony at Dewan Manggatal was officiated by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (National Unity and Social Wellbeing) Dr Md Farid Md Rafik.On another note, Azis said Malaysia has always worked together with her counterparts, especially Indonesia and the Philippines, adding that the co-operation exists not only when incidents happen.
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"We have very close ties with our counterparts and that is why I firmly hope that the Federal Government can allocate more funds for us in the coming 2019 Budget to be unveiled in October."I hope the latest kidnapping incident will wake up the Federal Government and make good its assurance to tighten security especially in the State East Coast," he said.He also said officers from Indonesia are currently in Semporna and that there have yet to be any news from the kidnappers.Still no contact... But I am sure they will let us know once there is contact," he said.Esszone and Esscom were established in 2013 following an incursion in Lahad Datu by some 200 Sulu militants who wanted to stake their territorial claim on Sabah.Ten Malaysian security personnel and 68 militants were killed in the five-week stand-off.Sabah's East Coast used to be a major target for kidnap-for-ransom groups who found it lucrative to abduct tourists from the many islands.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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