Statement by MCA Deputy President Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong on the Kidnappings in Sabah's water

I highlighted the Sept 11, 2018 kidnapping case in waters off Pulau Gaya in Semporna, Sabah, at the Parliament yesterday (Oct 23). The incident, which was the first kidnapping case in the said waters since 2016, saw two Indonesian fishermen abducted at gunpoint from their fishing vessel between midnight and 1am. Their family later received a call from the captors demanding a ransom of RM4mil for their release.

I asked for the investigation outcome of this kidnapping case, and sought clarification from the Home Affairs Ministry on the government’s efforts and determination to tighten control, improve security and curb cross-border crime cases in Sabah. I wanted to know if the government would allocate extra funds for these efforts in Budget 2019.

I also drew attention to the Sabah government’s recent decision to lift the ban on pump boat, which was put in place several years ago following numerous cross-border crimes and kidnappings. The ban was rightly imposed as pump boat is widely used by smugglers, human traffickers and criminals. With the ban lifted, what is the ministry’s plan to increase the efficiency of Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) in protesting the eastern Sabah waters?

In response, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Azis Jamman said the Filipino abductors had entered Sabah waters prior to the kidnapping and remained as illegal immigrants. On the day of the kidnapping, the authorities only took action two hours after the incident when two other fishermen, who managed to hide in the boat and escape the same fate, contacted their employer. Nine days later on Sept 20, 2018, ESSCOM launched an operation in Kunak, Tawau, and shot two Filipino illegal immigrants who were identified as informers for the Filipino kidnap-for-ransom group.

On my proposal to table a White Paper in the Parliament on the situation in Pulau Gaya, Azis said it was not necessary as the ministry felt that national security was not jeopardised in this recent kidnapping.

On lifting the ban of pump boat, Azis said the ministry is proposing to the Sabah state government to consider imposing the ban again at waters vulnerable to attacks by criminals.

Azis agreed with me that extra allocation for crime prevention and security control efforts is welcome as security operations at Eastern Sabah Security Zone are costly. He added that ESSCOM has proposed to run a forward operating base in eastern Sabah that is equipped with drone, radar detector, communication equipment and infrastructure such as helipad.

This latest kidnapping incident has rocked the eastern Sabah waters again, which have been calm for two years. I urge the government and Home Ministry to put in extra efforts to uphold the country sovereignty and tighten border control in eastern Sabah for the sake of the local tourism industry and the livelihood of local fishermen.

Original source: https://www.facebook.com/1002345083266329/posts/1130214297146073/

Datuk Seri Dr Ir Wee Ka Siong
MCA Deputy President
Sabah MCA Liaison Committee Chairman

-MCA Online-