Police aim to make Interior drug free
TAMBUNAN: Police will intensify efforts to fight crime, especially drug abuse in this area and other areas in the Upper Interior.
District police chief Deputy Superintendent Douglas Nyeging Taong said these efforts would be continued to make this area free from drugs.
“This is the goal of the district police headquarters to fight drugs until the end,” he told The Borneo Post, yesterday.
According to him, the issue of drugs in this area, which had sharply increased last year, not only involved adults but had spread to young people and students.
“This is very disturbing to the police and also leaders in this area as well as Keningau, Sook and Nabawan.
“I was told by the people in this area that the issue of drugs had never happened before but lately it was rampant,” he said.
In this regard, Douglas asked community leaders and the community here, and in the Upper Interior to give full cooperation to the police to combat the drug menace, which is the main enemy in the country.
He advised parents to protect their kids from the drug scourge, and to always observe the movements of children, especially at night.
“Find out who their friends are and make sure the children are always at home at night. If children have a need to go out at night, parents should accompany them.
“The caring attitude and love of parents towards their children will make the family institution happy and prosperous because kids will avoid unhealthy (habits), especially drug abuse,” he said.
Douglas said the topic of drugs was his scope of briefing during the Community Policing Program at Kampung Tombotuan here on Saturday.
He urged the local community to continue to cooperate with the police in maintaining security and to channel whatever information to the police.
He also reminded the people not to be involved with firearms without a licence.
He said legal action could be taken for possessing firearms without a valid licence.
He said there had been many death cases involving home made guns known as bakakuk, when out hunting.
“I ask the people who have this type of firearms to surrender them to the police,” he said.
Douglas said the Community Policing Program ran smoothly and the villagers reacted very well and appreciated the presence of the police in their village.
“The objective of this program is to create awareness on the importance of close cooperation between the police and the local community.
“At the same time, crime prevention information was given to the public,” he said.
He said among the activities held in conjunction with the program were a visit to a police exhibition, a visit to the village and to a ginger factory owned by the villagers, and a gotong royong to clean the village environment.
A total of 80 villagers, including the Tambunan officer-in-charge of the police station Sub-Inspector Murad Mohd Yatim, the chairman of the Area Neighbourhood Watch (KRT) Marcus Satiah, chairperson of the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) Mrs. Elizabeth Francis, Village Head Mrs. Adeline Takakong, senior police officers and policemen were present at the program it.