Kota Kinabalu: Sabah police are working on several plans to tackle the problem of squatter settlements in the State inhabited by illegal immigrants.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said he had instructed all (police) districts to make plans related to the issue.
“There is truth in what Esscom stated on the existence of squatter settlements with illegal immigrants throughout Sabah.
We are currently monitoring these settlements,” he said when met at the presentation of eight high-powered Harley-Davidson motorcycles from the Sabah Government by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor to the Sabah Police Contingent at Menara Kinabalu, here, Tuesday.
Jauteh was asked about the data disclosed by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) recently that there are 543 squatter settlements throughout the State and Labuan with more than 140,000 illegal immigrants living in them, posing a security threat.
These illegal economic migrants comprise more than 90,000 Filipinos, 45,000 Indonesians and 5,000 others, including from South Asia. Lahad Datu tops the list with 130 such settlements, followed by Beluran with 96, Keningau (48), Papar (39), Kota Kinabalu (37), Tuaran (32), Sandakan (30), Penampang (17), Kota Belud (14), Semporna (14), Kudat (13), Kinabatangan (12), Tawau (11), Ranau (10), Sipitang (10), Kunak (7), Tenom (7), Labuan (6), Kota Marudu (6) and Beaufort (4).
Esscom Senior Intelligence Officer ASP Nustad Kirino said this does not include various housing and private lands rented out to illegal immigrants.
Speaking at an online seminar on “Understanding the security threats to Sabah and Sarawak” organised by the Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department, Nustad acknowledged that corruption was a factor that contributed to the growth of this security threat as evidenced in the trial of the Tanduo intruders from the “Royal Sulu Army” whose collaborators included police personnel in Lahad Datu.
“They have collaborators from among the Filipino immigrants and smugglers in Sabah, especially in the East Coast.
“Illegal immigrants and smuggling activities are the main security threats in Esszone. Overall, the security situation in Esszone is under control.
“The smuggling group is the main contributor to the elements of the ‘Royal Sulu’ forces and kidnap-for-ransom groups.
The sea curfew has successfully curbed the threat posed by the Royal Sulu forces and cross-border kidnap groups and reduced smuggling activities,” said Nustad.
Meanwhile, Jauteh said the motorcycles contributed by the State Government are to be used by the Sabah Police Contingent for special assignments, adding the motorcycles will start to be used this Friday.
“We will ensure that all eight motorcycles are used for maximum assignments and that the motorcycles and special assignments would run smoothly,” he said.
He admitted that the Sabah Police Contingent is currently experiencing a shortage of motorcycles.
“Due to the rapid development in the country and Sabah, with the vast areas and more and more roads, the number of police motorcycles available so far cannot cope with one hundred per cent of the needs, but they can still be mobilised to ensure that we can handle the traffic situation in Sabah and at the same time we are still able to mobilise the motorcycles for escort purposes,” he said.
