Call to heed ex-Sabah CP's advice
Published on: Thursday, April 17, 2014
Kota Kinabalu: The interview by former Sabah Police Commissioner Ramli Yusuff to a news portal describing the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) as "ridiculous" because of the duplication of the chain of command in Esszone should provide serious food for thought for the Federal Cabinet.DAP Parliamentary leader and MP for Gelang Patah, Lim Kit Siang, said Esscom Director-General Datuk Mohamad Mentek had boasted on April 1 about its twin success in combining the role of the four components in Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone). But it was premature as there occurred another abduction within five months and less than 24 hours of Esscom's first anniversary celebrations.
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Lim said Ramli had recounted from his experiences as Sabah Police Commissioner (2002-04) about a decade ago and said Esscom should be headed by the state police chief to avoid duplication of the chain of command and to ensure a better grip on security operational matters.It was during Ramli's time that Sabah saw a massive repatriation of illegal immigrants with their squatters torn down in joint operations with the army under the directive of then Chief Minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat. Ramli's tenure as Sabah CP also saw a spate of kidnappings involving Sarawakian gang leaders solved with many of them being killed in shootouts.Ramli said it was ridiculous to have Esscom, which creates a conflicting chain of command, and wants Esscom to be headed by the police or army, but he prefers the police because this is an internal security matter.
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As ex-Sabah CP, Ramli thinks that Mohamad Mentek is not suitable for the task as he is from the Immigration Department and "doesn't know operational matters".On the recent kidnapping of two women from a resort off Semporna, Ramli said it warranted serious attention. Ramli said if the police were in charge, no time would have been wasted and "no 'pushing (bertolak-tolak)' between Esscom and the police to figure out whose jurisdiction the kidnapping case fell under."
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Ramli said there were no incursions or kidnappings when he was police chief because coordination was tight among all enforcement agencies, including the army. Ramli said he would advise the Chief Minister on security issues and coordinate everything with the navy, air force, army, volunteer corps (Rela), and Immigration and Customs departments.Ramli had said the army and police shared their assets throughout Sabah, and compared notes on intelligence, which he insisted is the most crucial aspect of security operations.Special attention was also given to tourist areas where more personnel were deployed at outposts and for patrols.Ramli said "It doesn't matter (how long the border is). If it happens in your district you have to know", adding that ground intelligence should be watertight in "red zones". Based on his experience, Ramli said "there is no way" such kidnappings and incursions can take place because the state and security personnel have already identified these "red zones"."So I cannot understand why Esscom cannot (handle) this... These are the areas we used to take care of before and we beefed up (security) in all these areas."If only the police and army can sit down and work together again, it will be very good. We worked based on information on the ground.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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