Yong: New security measures will hit Sabah economy

The economic effects of the stoppage of the barter trade will spawn new social and security problems in a few months’ time.

KOTA KINABALU: Except for Kinabatangan MP Bung Moktar Radin who hailed the indefinite suspension of the barter trade, and appears to be in a minority of one, other Sabahans appear unhappy with the new “security measures” imposed in the wake of a new kidnapping-for- ransom incident. “This decision should serve as a lesson for the people in the southern Philippines even though it’s said that there’s no connection between the barter traders and the abductors.”

“Last year, 1,199 Philippine barter trading boats visited Sandakan alone.”

Former Sabah Chief Minister Yong Teck Lee was among those who begs to disagree and fears that suspending and/or banning the centuries-old barter trade will hit the economy. “It may help ease security concerns. However, we have to remember that Sabah is a big net exporter of consumer goods to the southern Philippines.”

He warned that the economic effects of the stoppage of the barter trade will spawn new social and security problems in a few months’ time. “Legitimate travellers, without the ferry services provided by the barter trading boats, will resort to smaller vessels which will land all over the place and not at the sea ports.”

“Banning the pump boats, for example, is like banning motorcycles to deal with the mat rempit problem.”

Again, added Yong, suspending barter trade and ferry services was like suspending air travel to curb drug smuggling and human trafficking through airports. “There must be viable alternatives to the new security measures imposed with the suspension of cross border trade and travel.”

“Otherwise, it would be like taking painkillers, a temporary measure, until the government has figured out what to do.”

Yong, who is also Sabah Progressive Party President, ventured that the probable target, and new tactics of the kidnappers, was to snatch boats in diving locations, carrying tourist passengers from China. “The authorities have so far foiled many such attempts but we need long-term solutions to our security woes.”

He does not rule out a boatload of Chinese tourists becoming victims of a kidnapping-for-ransom gang one of these days. “That would be a real security nightmare for Sabah.”

Tawau Chinese Chamber of Commerce (TCCC) President Lo Su Fui charged that the government’s indefinite suspension of barter trading activities at ports across Sabah was “Ill-advised”. “It’s a knee-jerk reaction to the recent kidnapping incident in the country’s territorial waters.”

Likewise, Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCI) President Michael Lui urged the Sabah Government to reconsider its decision to suspend barter trading activities in the state. “We are concerned that this decision, although taken for security reasons, will hit the economy in eastern Sabah in particular very badly.”

Barter trading, according to trader Chai Soon, is a misnomer. “The exchange of goods was hardly practised. The Filipinos sell their goods to Sabahans for cash and use the money to buy goods from locals. We sell more to the southern Philippines than buying from them.”

Chai, the Chairman of the Grocers, Importers, Exporters and Industry Association of Sabah, warned that the indefinite suspension of the barter trade would lead to major problems for the local economy. “Suspending the barter trade is not going to wipe out the kidnappers or improve the security situation.”