KOTA KINABALU: The State Government is concerned over suspected terrorists hiding in the State and wants the police to continue operations to track down and arrest any remnants.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, who commended police’s recent action to arrest 13 suspected members of terror groups, said the State Government was aware and concerned about intelligence reports of their presence in the state.
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“Good action, we are very concerned as we have heard of such reports. Action is now being taken, it is good,” he said after launching the new 2.7km Nounton-Bukit Padang Road here, Tuesday.
He was referring to a report Monday quoting Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun as saying police have arrested 13 people – 12 Filipinos, one of whom is a woman, and a Malaysian – in Sabah on suspicion of being members of terrorist groups and protecting terrorists in hiding.
Mohd Shafie said the police must make sure that these people are arrested if they are hiding in the State.
“We must welcome the effort made by the police...and it has nothing to do with Warisan (Parti Warisan Sabah),” he said, referring Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan who had asked whether reports of the new State Government being in favour of giving documents to those of Filipino ancestry were the reason for the sudden influx of terror suspects into Sabah.
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Mohd Fuzi had said the suspects were rounded up in Semporna and Tambunan in a two-day operation on March 11 and 12 mounted by the Counter Terrorism Division, Special Branch and the VAT 69 Commando Unit.
He said the two others are suspected to be members of the Royal Sulu Force (RSF) that was involved in the attacks in Lahad Datu and Semporna in 2013, adding they are also suspected to have been involved in recruiting new members for RSF by selling membership cards of the group to Filipino nationals residing in Sabah.
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In another development, Mohd Shafie said he had asked the Public Work Department Director to expedite the implementation of the proposed Ulu Padas and Papar dams, which are important for providing water and electricity supplies to the State.
“This is something that we must do. We also want to look at how water can be stored during the rainy season so it can be used during drought like right now,” he said.
