Published on: Thursday, March 21, 2013 |
Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Information Chief, Datuk Johnny Mositun, who proposed this, said such settlements should be monitored closely as a precautionary measure following the intrusion in Lahad Datu by the Sulu armed terrorists.
"I think it is timely move to pay attention to these squatter settlements as there are also countless non-locals residing in those areas considering the current situation in Lahad Datu.
"The concerned authorities should also distinguish between occupants who are locals and foreigners so that it would be easier to separate them for better monitoring.
"At the same time, the locals must be relocated to low-cost homes and provided with billed water and electricity while relevant enforcement authorities can check on the validity of the foreigners' entry to Sabah so that appropriate action can be taken," he said.
Mositun, who is also PBS Pantai Manis chief, said this after presenting basic food to Papar police chief, DSP George Abdu Rakman, as a donation to the police personnel and officers who are on duty round-the-clock to secure the security in the district.
PBS Papar was presenting the donations in kind to the police force here to show full support and appreciate their duties and sacrifice to safeguard the security and maintain peace.
Also present were PBS Kawang chief Mecharle Dibang, PBS Bongawan chief Jitim Abak, Papar police traffic and public order chief Chief Inspector Mohd Fauzi Sahat, Papar police management division head, ASP Fuad Abdul Malek and party members.
Mositun was commenting on a proposal by former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad that the residents of many water villages off the Sabah coast should be relocated as this made the State vulnerable to threats from foreign terrorists.
"I agree with Tun's suggestion that the water villages in the East Coast of Sabah should be relocated.
"But I feel that the squatter settlements in Sabah overall should also be looked into seriously and demolished not only for security reasons but also to resolve perennial problems like water and electricity theft in those settlements and save the Water Department and SESB millions of ringgit yearly," Mositun said.
Earlier in the event, he also called on private companies to discharge their corporate social responsibilities (CSR) by contributing in kind to the all district police stations in Sabah.
Mositun, who is also State Deputy Speaker, commended the State Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman for presenting RM100,000 each to the families of the fallen heroes.
The donation was to lessen the burden of families whose loved ones were killed while protecting the country, he said.
He also reminded the public not to listen to rumours and propaganda that are spread in the social media and, instead, check with the police on the authenticity of the information so as to prevent confusion and unnecessary panic.
Mositun also commended the Federal Government for setting up the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) to guard the coastal waters from Kudat to Tawau and deploying additional battalions to secure the areas.
He said such vital action also showed the capability and commitment of the Barisan Nasional (BN) government in protecting the sovereignty of the nation from foreign terrorists.
