Relocate security bases to Sabah's East coast, urges Warisan

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan has again called for the Federal Government to relocate security bases from Sabah's West coast to its East coast.

This was after several foreign countries maintained their travel advisories to their citizens to limit visits to the Land Below the Wind.

In a statement here on Monday (July 31), Warisan leaders voiced their concerns over such advisories on Sabah issued by several European countries that might prevent players in several sectors of the state from taking full advantage of the lower ringgit.

Tungku assemblyman Assafal Alian said they were shocked to learn that the United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU) had both issued "only essential travel" advisories on Sabah to their citizens, highlighting the coastal areas of Kudat and Tawau as areas with risk of kidnapping.

"Another Canadian government advisory specifically mentioned the threat of kidnapping and violence perpetrated by militants from the Philippines against tourist resorts, restaurants, waterfronts, and islands along the Kinabatangan River (Sukau) and Sipadan.

"We don't know the extent of the damage caused by all these advisories but if travellers abide by them, then imagine how much Sabahans on the East coast have lost in terms of tourism and economic spillovers opportunities that they could have enjoyed at a time when low ringgit can attract these Europeans to come and spend their dollars, pounds and Euros here," he said.

He added that government-linked companies like the Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC) would also risk losing out on securing investments from European multi-national companies while the Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (Shareda) would be challenged to attract European buyers for the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme.

Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal had previously called on Putrajaya to move security bases to the east coast as the final solution to issues of smuggling, illegal immigration, piracy, kidnapping, transit terrorism and future intrusions.

Former Kalabakan MP Ma’mun Sulaiman said foreign countries were unconvinced with security levels on the East coast despite the presence of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom).

"And lest we forget, the militancy threats from the Philippines are far from over as highlighted by The Sydney Morning Herald last month.

"We believe it is now crucial to relocate the army, navy and air camps from to the east coast and to invest in military intelligence/surveillance systems such as the 'Predator MQ-9' drone to monitor our borders.

"The Tanduo Intrusion (in Lahad Datu) in 2013 should serve as a reminder to us of how these militant threats can develop covertly and with the so-called Sulu Sultanate heirs now making their international presence, we must take the appropriate action now to meet up with any future possibility," he said.

Despite not being part of the state government, Warisan deputy president Datuk Darell Leiking said the party would nonetheless do everything it can to restore the international community's confidence in Sabah's security level as part of its effort to revitalise the state's economy.

He hoped the Federal Government would extend its cooperation on the matter.

"Warisan will do everything possible to make this relocation a reality and we also believe that the state/federal relationship should be guided by the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and not political subordination so this request will be a test to see whether the interests of the people of Sabah are being taken seriously or not," he said.