KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has commended the highly disciplined and committed spirits of armed forces posted in Sabah, especially at geographically challenged stations.
He said for those stationed at interiors or rural areas with challenging geographical locations with uncertain weather, the level of mental resilience, discipline and strong fighting spirit was needed for them to get through their duties.
“The strength, resilience, courage and preparedness of our armed forces in defending every inch of the nation’s waters from threats is a symbol of sacrifice that is rarely seen, but it is our fortress that ensures our safety and peace,” he said in conveying his highest appreciation to the armed forces.
Anwar said this after visiting the Dogoton military post in Pulau Banggi on Saturday (May 9), where he was also briefed on the operations, security, challenges and other issues faced by those on duty.
He was also there to monitor and have a better understanding of the level of preparedness at the Malaysia-Philippines borders and to check out the radar operations in the area.
He said the Dogoton Post is among those facing the Philippines borders that plays a vital role in safeguarding the security and sovereignty of the nation.
Anwar’s visit to the Dogoton post was part of several programmes lined up including to Batu Asas SMK Banggi Karakit and to meet the people during his unannounced visit to Pulau Banggi, in Sabah’s northern Kudat district, on Saturday.
He had arrived in Sabah late Friday (May 8) with his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, from Cebu, Philippines after a two-day visit to attend the 48th Asean Summit and related meetings.
In another stop at the island, he said he wants digital and artificial intelligence transformation policies to not only be focused on Kuala Lumpur, main universities or research institutions but also extended to all parts of the nation to benefit everyone from the grassroots levels onwards.
Anwar said apart from meeting the people, his visit to Pulau Banggi was also to congratulate the Pulau Banggi National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI) after it was named champion in the capacity building category in the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).
The award was given in conjunction with the event held by the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva last year, he said.
“Although Banggi is far from the city and faces various infrastructural challenges, it still managed to make Malaysia proud on the international level. This achievement is also one of my reasons for coming here,” he said.
Anwar and Wan Azizah departed for Kuala Lumpur from the Kota Kinabalu International Airport at around 2.25pm.
