Call to intensify border surveillance
KOTA KINABALU: The state government through the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) is advised to intensify border surveillance efforts to prevent attempts by external elements to encroach upon the state’s waters.
Segama Assemblyman, Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi, pointed out that while security personnel have been carrying out their responsibilities as best as they can, there are several other aspects that need to be improved on to prevent any undesired incidents from occurring in the future.
“Among them is the issue of insufficient assets and personnel overseeing the borders and waters of the country, especially on the east coast of Sabah.
“The government needs to take immediate action to ensure that incidents of intrusion, such as the one that occurred in the waters of Kunak on April 7, resulting in security personnel being injured, do not recur.
“Although such incidents are rare, they still demonstrate that our country’s borders and sovereignty can be easily violated by foreign criminals,” he said when speaking to the media at the Segama State Assembly Open House on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Mohamaddin praised the bravery of two members of the Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM) who were injured by gunfire while on patrol in the ‘Op Khas Pagar Laut’ recently.
According to him, all the personnel involved in the gunfire incident are national heroes who deserve recognition.
Earlier, Maritime Corporal Zainal Abad Komel, 45, sustained injuries to his left eye after being shot during a shootout with armed men about 0.2 nautical miles northeast of Kampung Pangi, Kunak.
In the incident which occurred at 8.40am, another boat crew member, Maritime Chief Petty Officer Prayrie De Cuella Jimin, 35, sustained injuries to both hands while returning fire at the gunmen, while four others were unharmed.