Tawfiq warns East Coast water villages can be 'Sleeper cells'

KUALA LUMPUR: A thorough screening and re-development of squatter houses in water villages in the East Coast is necessary as otherwise these may act as "sleeper cells" which can pose potential security risks for Sabah, a Sabah Umno delegate told the ongoing party assembly."If huge funds can be channeled for the purpose of screening and re-developing the water villages, terrace houses could be built and given to eligible locals and Bumiputeras while illegal immigrants could be deported.

"As long as these areas are not cleaned up, they can could be spots and 'nests' for illegal immigrants and intruders. I hope the Federal Government will be serious in tackling this issue as I was made to understand that only two water villages in Sandakan and Semporna have been approved to undergo such screening next year when there are about 130 water villages along the Esszone areas," said Umno Tawau Divisional Chief Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan.

Tawfiq, who is also State Youth and Sports Minister, said the Federal Government also need to further increase military assets, equipment and facilities for better security surveillance in the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom).

Debating the presidential policy speech at the Umno General Assembly 2014, Friday, he noted that some military equipment used for security surveillance in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) urgently needs ugrading.

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"We hope the Federal Government will seriously consider providing sophisticated equipment and latest technology for better security surveillance in the Esszone area.

"During my working visit to Esscom in Tawau, I noted that the radar coverage system is quite limited as there are blind spots that are not covered by the radar. Those blind spots we fear might be encroached by intruders and outsiders to commit cross-border crime," he said.

In addition, he said Esscom needs over 200 modern and sophisticated speed boats that can pursue intruders even up to shallow waters that are smuggling and cross-crime borders spots. Such speed boats would be very useful to carry out wider security surveillance along long coastline in the Esszone area.

Furthermore, Tawfiq said the security personnel should be increased together with providing comfortable and suitable housing or quarters so that they would feel motivated to carry out their tasks, duties and responsibilities.

On vernacular schools issue, Tawfiq said the Education Ministry should not be drastic in making a decision on the issue because many Bumiputera and local parents are sending their children to Chinese schools particularly in Sabah.

"Based on a report from Chinese Chamber in Kunak, out of 35,162 pupils in Chinese schools in Tawau, 15,120 pupils are Bumiputera and 20,042 are Chinese. In other words, 43 per cent of pupils in Chinese schools in Tawau were Bumiputeras last year.

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"This included one Chinese school, SRJK© Kuok Ming in Tawau where 84 per cent of the pupils are Bumiputera where they have benefited from learning in the school to learn another language that would give them the edge in future," he said.

Instead, Tawfiq said the Ministry should look into the need of increasing national schools in Sabah and enhance its quality as well as the infrastructures.

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