KOTA KINABALU: The Federal government has to place more priority on security matters in the east coast of Sabah, said Tungku assemblyman Assafal Alian.
“In Sabah, we need an army base camp in the east coast as Lahad Datu is located at the border (and exposed to cross-border crimes).
“As the assemblyman for the constituency, I strongly support a proposal by our Chief Minister (Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal) to shift some manpower from Lok Kawi (in Papar) and Paradise camp in Kota Belud to the east coast,” he said.
Assafal, who was met after the launch of the two-day 2nd International Symposium on Sun Bear Conservation and Management Sabah 2019, pointed out that there had been a proposal to have a military camp at Felda Sahabat 16 in Lahad Datu but the matter has been put on hold due to land and financial difficulties.
Shafie had yesterday assured that the state government would have no problem to allocate land to build the camp aimed at preserving the sovereignty of the country.
The latest kidnapping involving three Indonesian fishermen took place off Tambisan waters in Lahad Datu about noon on Monday.
The area is just three nautical miles from international waters and the nearest point to southern Philippines’ Tawi Tawi islands where militant groups like the Abu Sayyaf are known to reside
In June earlier this year, 10 Indonesian fishermen were kidnapped off Lahad Datu. Nine were later rescued.
In the last 18 years, there have been more than 20 kidnapping cases involving Indonesians.
Assafal, who is also Assistant state Tourism, Culture and Environment minister, added these incidents have negatively affected the tourism industry.
“It affected the state government’s efforts to bring in tourists, especially Europeans to the east coast of Sabah where the Danum Valley Conservation Area, Tabin Wildlife area, Tun Sakaran marine park are among the attractions.”