Kidnappers made four attempts earlier: Mentek
Published on: Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Kota Kinabalu: Four kidnap-for-ransom attempts were foiled by the security forces in the East Coast just two months before the Singamata Adventure and Reef Resort in Semporna kidnapping incident, it was revealed, Monday.Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the State Assembly sitting on Monday, Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) Director General Datuk Mohammad Mentek said this was proof the security forces were doing their job. He said the situation could have been worse as Esscom intelligence also detected five kidnapper boats with at least 30 men on board trying to enter the country's waters in the East Coast since March 19.
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He said the security forces did their best to prevent four of the boats from penetrating the security line. Unfortunately, one managed to elude them and struck at the Singamata Adventure and Reef Resort.Security personnel were posted in various areas after the intelligence report was received but "unfortunately we cannot be everywhere at all times.""We go to this side, they will use another route (but) we are improving and we also need more time in order to put in everything in place," he said, adding that Esscom also required cooperation from all the authorities and public."I am also disappointed with the incident in Singamata, which is located not far from the town, marine base and police station.
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"I am not trying to point fingers at the other authorities but it is not just up to Esscom but also those in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone). We have to coordinate and try our best to address all the issues."
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Mohammad also appealed for cooperation from the public to provide information on the presence of suspicious characters in their areas. He warned that stern action would be taken against locals found renting out their houses to undocumented foreigners. He said Esscom also proposed cooperation with the local authority to burn down houses found occupied by undocumented foreigners during the Esscom-led operation codenamed, Ops Gasak so that they would not return.Esscom has been under heavy criticisms following the April 2 incident where a tourist from Shanghai, China, Gao Hua Yuan, 29 and a Filipina resort worker, Marcy Dayawan, 40, were abducted by a group of armed men at about 10.30pm.Nonetheless, Mohammad described the incident as a criminal case and not intrusion similar to the Sulu intrusion in Tanduo, Lahad Datu.Esscom was formed to ensure there is no more intrusion like in Tanduo and after one year there has not been any incident, he said.He also revealed that Esscom would be proposing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to the resort operators in the East Coast that aimed at bolstering security at their business premises during a meeting here on Tuesday.The SOP will incorporate all security aspects that were discussed in a workshop that was held in Sandakan two months ago and attended by resort operators, police, customs and other relevant agencies. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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