By Richard Joe Jimmy The issue of the existence of Sulu commanders in all 60 Sabah’s state seats as announced by our Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Zahid Hamidi recently surprised and frightened Sabahans.
It means the state’s security is at risk. A time-bomb is ready to explode anytime. Thinking about it, it’s scary.
Just imagine. Kota Kinabalu area alone which has nine States seats namely Api-Api, Likas, Inanam, Karambunai, Luyang, Moyog, Kapayan, Tanjung Aru and Putatan, is already having nine Sulu commanders.
Who knows, out of the blue a sudden chaotic situation happens in the state. Remember, no area is spared of danger.
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I agree with Kemabong Assemblyman Datuk Rubin Balang of his concern related to this issue.
He wanted the security authorities to give an extensive briefing to all the assemblymen on the threats of the Sulu commanders. “This is a serious matter, which also means the commanders have placed their machinery in every constituency.
“That is why the security authorities should give us a detailed briefing on the threats posed by the Sulu commanders,” he said during the state assembly sitting.
However, Bingkor Assemblyman and Sabah Star Chairman Datuk Dr Jeffery Kitingan was sceptical of the issue.
He asked why the Sulu commanders were not arrested.
He believes that the Deputy Prime Minister was not telling the truth.
“On the other hand, if the news is true, then he is guilty because as the Home Minister, he had failed to handle and arrest these Sulu commanders.
“Because there had been no arrest, it is highly likely that his statement was mere fabrication which directly threatened public order while at the same time, negatively affected Sabah’s economy, especially our tourism industry,” he said.
The ordinary people have mixed feelings. They opined that if indeed there is such a case in the state then they are no longer safe in their own state. On the contrary, there are those who think that if the Sulu commanders really exist why not the government act to weaken their existence because they believe that the government has the capability to do so.
Some opined that if the issue is not true, the people will no longer believe any news of security threats even if they are indeed real.
They feel that would pose a real danger when people are taking it easy and are not bothering the real threats created by the real intruders.
The people don’t wish to have the same fate of a story of a young man who used to cheat his friends that he is drowning.
He died because when he was really drowning in a river, no one came to his rescue knowing that he is always lying.
To them such case must not be allowed to happen in Sabah.
On economics, the security threats can eliminate the confidence of investors. It is a fact that investors are only interested putting their investment money in a country where there is peace and of course where there is a total integrity of the leaders.
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We need investors to stimulate our economy and at the same time providing jobs to our people.
But if our country fails to convince investors of our security, then which investors would dare come to our country to invest?
Similarly, tourists will shun a country that cannot provide security to their visits. They will not spend their money when they can’t enjoy the tourism products a country provide, with ease. The kidnapping cases on the waters in Sabah have already scared many tourists to come to Sabah. So what more with the problem of security inland?
The big question is how the Sulu commanders could easily settle in all the 60 constituencies?
It is puzzling to understand it. But now since it has been identified and known, the security authorities must put up their credible expertise in use.
Don’t let Sabahans be in constant fear so much so they cannot make a living peacefully. The people believe that our security forces can stop this menace.
Many believe that the government is not politicising our security. They want it to be treated seriously.
The people just want to make a living without hindrances. Their major concern is that they can feed their family and enjoy the peaceful life they had been enjoying presently. They want the government to continuously provide them such privileges.
Nobody wants to live in a country where there are constant wars. We can always learn a lesson of its negative consequences from many countries in Africa and in the Middle East.
Their constant fighting had denied their citizens to live rightly. As a result, many had left their countries to European countries, creating unprecedented immigrant crisis in Europe. And of course we don’t want such scenario happening in Malaysia especially Sabah.
Let us keep our political differences aside for the benefit of the peaceful co-existence of Malaysians.
In fact, every Malaysian regardless of their political belief wants to defend our country from any outside intruders.
They feel that they have a national duty for Malaysia. That is the reason they don’t want any outside threats to be used as a political issue.
The people feel that they need to be treated with dignity. They opined that it is time to stop playing the sensitivity of the people. It is time to get real and sensible. They are not questioning the government’s sincerity but they wish such issue does not get out control.
And are we not ready to become people with first-class mentality to suit our aspirations to become a developed country in 2020? The people want to enjoy their success in tandem with our country’s dream to be a developed country, if ever we can succeed. Sabah has already had many problems.
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The Esscom is consistently tested by kidnappers. We know they are trying their best to stop the kidnapping but it seems that the kidnappers are always one step ahead of our security capability.
We have the RCI, after more than a year of its inception, has yet to release its conclusive recommendations and solutions to solve Sabah’s illegal immigrant problem. And now Sabah has another serious problem, the existence of 60 Sulu commanders in every corner of our state. When will all these problems end? It is a pitiful situation for Sabahans.
It is very unfortunate that the government only realise the presence of the 60 Sulu commanders after they had already been in our state. What happened before that?
The only explainable reason is that our surveillance and intelligence had been defeated. As such, there is no other option for them but to upgrade their capability to track down the in-coming future intruders. As at the present case, we leave it to the security authorities to solve it according to their intelligent operations.
As everyone knows, security of our country cannot be compromised. The peace enjoyed by her citizens must be preserved. Not only the security authorities are responsible but every Malaysian has a responsibility to keep our security intact. Therefore it is pertinent to wipe out any traitors among Malaysians.
But the problem in Sabah is that we have been infiltrated by a large number of illegal immigrants.
The impact is it is difficult to identify who really are our enemy, indeed unfortunate predicaments for Sabahans.
But why not implement criminal profiling for non-citizens to censure bad elements?
Thinking about bad elements, let us ponder for a while and understand the ideas of Suzy Kassem regarding her thoughts about security that she penned down in her book, Rise Up and Salute the Sun.
She said, “Pick a leader who will make their citizens proud. One who will stir the hearts of the people, so that the sons and daughters of a given nation strive to emulate their leader’s greatness.
Only then will a nation be truly great, when a leader inspires and produces citizens worthy of becoming future leaders, honourable decision makers and peacemakers. And in these times, a great leader must be extremely brave.
Their leadership must be steered only by their conscience, not a bribe.”
Hope the case of the 60 Sulu commanders who are already present in our midst be successfully resolved without any unwanted incidents. We pray for that.