Sabah safe and secure, says Shahidan

SABAH is safe, said Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, hoping many people will continue visiting the state.

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said about RM1.28mil is spent monthly on operations for 43 army control posts. Besides that, nearly RM770,000 is spent on 42 police and auxiliary control posts under the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone), he said when replying to Datuk Seri Abdul Ghapur Salleh (BN - Kalabakan).

Shahidan added that security personnel were placed on every tourist island resort.

“Even Singamata, which is a reef and not an island, is guarded by policemen,” he said, adding that the ratio was two security personnel for every tourist on specific islands.

He said priority was given to Semprona, Lahad Datu and Tawau, owing to their proximity to the borders of Indonesia and the Philippines.

He added that security was beefed up at Pulau Sibatik to curb cross-border smuggling involving subsidised items.

Shahidan reiterated that although there were differing views on the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), Sabah was still safe and the command was focused on boosting safety in specific locations in the eastern part of the state.

“If something happens in Semprona, it only involves Semporna and not Kota Kinabalu.

“So Sabah is still safe and I hope that many will come visit the state,” he said.