Jeffrey wants ‘Homeland Security’ for Sabah

The state government should set up its own Homeland Security Division to fill in for the shortcomings of the federal agencies in protecting the people in Sabah.

KOTA KINABALU: Police in Sabah are coming under increasing pressure to send a message to residents that their state is not going to be overrun by what is perceived to be the seedier elements of legal and illegal immigrants flooding the state.

The latest to rap the performance of the the police force over growing fears that crime has spiralled out of control in the state over the years is the Sabah chapter of the State Reform Party or STAR Sabah.

The opposition party which is gaining rapid grassroots support around the state has suggested that the state government should set up its own Homeland Security Division to fill in for the shortcomings of the federal agencies in protecting the people in Sabah.

Party chairman Jeffrey Kitingan made the provocative recommendation while speaking at the launching of its election canvassing unit in Kaingaran, on Saturday.

He was responding to the public furore over the alleged murder of Norikoh Saliwa, a 16-year-old student from Kota Marudu last Sunday.

Kitingan noted that the public outrage over the teenager’s death was reflected in the torrent of postings on social network sites with the vast majority blaming Sabah’s teeming population of immigrants.

The STAR Sabah chairman pointed out that one of the key factors which pushed Sabah to join with neighbour Sarawak and Malaya to form Malaysia in 1963 was the security threats from Indonesia and Philippines.

The idea being that being in the federation would provide better security for the state and its people.

“However, the federal agencies responsible for Sabah’s security and borders have failed to live up to the people’s expectations.

“Therefore, Sabah must have its own Homeland Security to ensure the better safety of its citizens and its borders in the wake of increasing crimes being committed by foreigners/illegal immigrants
against locals and the influx of illegal immigrants all over the state,” he said.

Kitingan noted that in recent times foreigners in the state had become bolder and more ruthless.

“They have shot and killed locals, grievously hurt and assaulted others to the extent of limbs being severed and have been responsible for many, many cases of break-ins, burglaries and robberies.

“Even the police are not spared and have been assaulted by these foreigners,” he pointed out.

He said the brutal crimes committed by these foreigners, especially those who are in possession of the MyKad reflected the serious breach of Sabah’s internal security and border controls.

The teenager’s death along with the kidnapping of two businessmen from their property in Lahad Datu on the east coast of the state last month by a group of heavily armed men, all believed to be foreigners, relegated as hype months of loud assertions by government leaders that crime in the state was under control.