Root cause is our own leaders' stupidity: Jeffrey
Published on: Sunday, May 11, 2014
Kota Kinabalu: Star Sabah Chief Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan reiterated his call for the setting up of a full-fledged Sabah Homeland Security Ministry as a long-term security mechanism. He said the ministry was needed instead of relying on an ad-hoc piecemeal arrangement reacting only to events such as kidnappings and foreign intrusion as and when they occurred."This proposed mechanism is important in view of the repeated cross-border kidnappings and insecurity in Sabah and the repeated failures of the Federal Government in looking after Sabah's security," he said.ADVERTISEMENT Dr Jeffrey claimed the problem and root cause of insecurity in Sabah was the result of giving MyKads to unqualified illegal immigrants for political expediency and the supporting of rebels and insurgency in the Southern Philippines in the name of religion."Now, would-be kidnappers, who may well be "Malaysians" operating within our borders, can easily collaborate with their countrymen outside our borders. They are familiar with our borders and the loopholes in our security system."They probably have better intelligence than our own security. Does our intelligence know who their next targets are?" he asked.ADVERTISEMENT He said these fake Malaysians holding themselves out as Sabahans have been proven on numerous occasions, of Indonesians employed as security guards, one even shot dead a bank officer, and Pakistani taxi drivers holding fake ICs as Sabahans. These were probably the tip of the iceberg of dubious ICs even being delivered to foreigners and as many as 1.5 million dubious ICs given to foreigners, he said in a statement here Saturday.
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"As the Federal Government has failed to keep Sabah safe as promised during the formation of Malaysia and the more recent promises by the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister and the Home Minister as well as the establishment of the now proven ineffective Esscom, the Sabah Government should seriously consider establishing its own homeland security to complement and supplement the shortcomings of the federal security."Dr Jeffrey, who is also Bingkor Assemblyman, said this homeland security should take charge of the State's immigration, national registration, police and labour, including foreign workers.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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"With the purported good federal-state relations existing between Sabah and the Federal Government, I am sure that this Sabah homeland security mechanism can easily be worked out," he said.He said the recent kidnappings especially of foreign tourists which can seriously harm the Sabah economy and livelihood of genuine Sabahans has shown that the time has come for Sabah and Sabahans to take control of their own sovereignty, autonomy and complement security in Sabah.