Security flip-flop and blame game continue in Sabah
My article was earlier published in TheAntDaily.com on 18/5/2014
Another abduction has taken place, another breach of security, another breach of our nation’s sovereignty and are we going to expect more of such to come?
This is the question that we are not putting to the federal government and the various security administrators of our nation. Where are they right now when crucial answers and explanations are required to ease the public outcry over the current situation in Sabah.
The Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), which was established in March 2013 under the direct purview of the Prime Minister’s Department, is now under heavy public criticism following yet another abduction by foreign gunmen who are believed to be closely link to a terror group based in the southern Philippines.
It seems that the security and control in Sabah still remain a very confusing affair. No one, not even the Sabah state government, knows who is exactly in charge of the security command to ensure the state’s safety and security. Even the state’s Security Council is in the dark on the matter.
When asked on the recent abduction, the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar was quick to say that it was Esscom’s Director-General Datuk Mohammad Mentek who should explain to the public on this matter. But when Mentek’s office was asked on this case, his officials quickly responded that Esscom should not be blamed because the case clearly falls under the direct jurisdiction of the police force.
So, who is actually in charge here? The police and Esscom had both washed their hands on the most recent abduction. The army, navy, air force or the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA)? If all these security agencies are also not responsible, then Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein should give a clear and detailed explanation on who will be in command this time to prevent another such foreign intrusion or terrorist attack.
Look! The security of our nation is currently at stake and no one seems to be taking this matter seriously, just because they are too busy politicking over racial and religious matters, too busy dealing with the opposition’s rising influence.
When Esscom was established, it was supposed to play a leading role and unified command centre to ensure the police, army, navy, air force and the MMEA work together to preserve the safety and security in the unstable eastern zone of Sabah.
However, what disappoints our people is that Esscom is after all merely a coordinator or some sort of document controller. It does not have any real powers to command the army, navy, air force, police and the MMEA or to issue direct instructions pertaining to security matters.
As at today, all the security apparatuses which are supposed to unite under a “single command” within Esscom are still carrying out their routines separately without any close communication and coordination.
Then what is the purpose of Esscom here? Merely doing an office boy’s job or messenger? If this is the case, just disband Esscom and put the entire state under the military’s purview.
Why create so much bureaucracy and waste public funds by putting Esscom into the picture when this agency is clearly ineffective in ensuring the safety and security of the state?
It creates too much confusion and commits too many flip-flops without proper streamlining. In the end, it gave even more problems than solutions, when all these agencies started to point fingers at one another, arguing such and such are not under their jurisdiction. Just look at how the IGP and Esscom director-general have responded. In such a situation, foreign intrusions and terrorist attacks in the state are bound to happen again.
Surely, the federal government does not want to wait until the whole state is overrun by foreign forces or some terrorist groups before taking concrete action. Such apathy will be costly.
By the way, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim had last month pledged that more security assets will be deployed to the east coast of Sabah in order to boost its security.
We wonder where were all those additional security assets were when the recent intrusion occurred. Spying on the opposition leaders instead?
Another abduction has taken place, another breach of security, another breach of our nation’s sovereignty and are we going to expect more of such to come?
This is the question that we are not putting to the federal government and the various security administrators of our nation. Where are they right now when crucial answers and explanations are required to ease the public outcry over the current situation in Sabah.
The Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), which was established in March 2013 under the direct purview of the Prime Minister’s Department, is now under heavy public criticism following yet another abduction by foreign gunmen who are believed to be closely link to a terror group based in the southern Philippines.
It seems that the security and control in Sabah still remain a very confusing affair. No one, not even the Sabah state government, knows who is exactly in charge of the security command to ensure the state’s safety and security. Even the state’s Security Council is in the dark on the matter.
When asked on the recent abduction, the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar was quick to say that it was Esscom’s Director-General Datuk Mohammad Mentek who should explain to the public on this matter. But when Mentek’s office was asked on this case, his officials quickly responded that Esscom should not be blamed because the case clearly falls under the direct jurisdiction of the police force.
So, who is actually in charge here? The police and Esscom had both washed their hands on the most recent abduction. The army, navy, air force or the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA)? If all these security agencies are also not responsible, then Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein should give a clear and detailed explanation on who will be in command this time to prevent another such foreign intrusion or terrorist attack.
Look! The security of our nation is currently at stake and no one seems to be taking this matter seriously, just because they are too busy politicking over racial and religious matters, too busy dealing with the opposition’s rising influence.
When Esscom was established, it was supposed to play a leading role and unified command centre to ensure the police, army, navy, air force and the MMEA work together to preserve the safety and security in the unstable eastern zone of Sabah.
However, what disappoints our people is that Esscom is after all merely a coordinator or some sort of document controller. It does not have any real powers to command the army, navy, air force, police and the MMEA or to issue direct instructions pertaining to security matters.
As at today, all the security apparatuses which are supposed to unite under a “single command” within Esscom are still carrying out their routines separately without any close communication and coordination.
Then what is the purpose of Esscom here? Merely doing an office boy’s job or messenger? If this is the case, just disband Esscom and put the entire state under the military’s purview.
Why create so much bureaucracy and waste public funds by putting Esscom into the picture when this agency is clearly ineffective in ensuring the safety and security of the state?
It creates too much confusion and commits too many flip-flops without proper streamlining. In the end, it gave even more problems than solutions, when all these agencies started to point fingers at one another, arguing such and such are not under their jurisdiction. Just look at how the IGP and Esscom director-general have responded. In such a situation, foreign intrusions and terrorist attacks in the state are bound to happen again.
Surely, the federal government does not want to wait until the whole state is overrun by foreign forces or some terrorist groups before taking concrete action. Such apathy will be costly.
By the way, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim had last month pledged that more security assets will be deployed to the east coast of Sabah in order to boost its security.
We wonder where were all those additional security assets were when the recent intrusion occurred. Spying on the opposition leaders instead?
