Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar’s suggestion for island operators off Sabah waters to cease operations is “ridiculous” and a “double injury” to state tourism, say leaders from local parties.
KOTA KINABALU: Ignorant Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar who made a “ridiculous” suggestion that all resort operators in remote islands off Sabah cease operations following last Wednesday’s abduction has been roundly condemned and urged instead to push for the release of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) findings.
Wan Junadi had said that the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) under which the Esszone is could not provide round- the- clock security to these island. But the irony is that last Wednesday’s abduction happened right under Esscom’s nose. This is the second incident since Esscom was set up.
The Singamata Reef Resort from where a Chinese and Filipino national were kidnapped by armed masked men on April 2 is less than a “5 minutes (1.5 km) boat ride” from Semporna, one of 10 districts under the Esscom-Esszone jurisdiction. Condemning the suggestion, Chia said the government cannot shrug off its responsibility just like that.
“The Deputy Home Minister is being highly irresponsible. “If he cannot discharge his duty, he should let somebody else who is more capable to take over his job. How could he not know that the resort where the abduction happened is only a 5 minutes boat ride from Semporna town. His solution is as if the Minister should cut off his hand if his hand is immobilized. Shouldn’t he think of how to heal his hand instead? “ asked Chia.
Chia has called for the early release of the outcome of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in Sabah. The RCI into the illegal immigrants was completed in September last year and is yet to release its findings.
Chia, who is also SAPP women chief, said the RCI findings was pertinent as the Sabah Police Chief Hamza Taib had reportedly said that last Wednesday’s abduction of two foreign national was an “inside” job. She asserted that the long term solution to peace and security in Sabah is highly dependent on the outcome on the RCI.
“As the call by the Chief Minister for all efforts to be directed to resolve the abduction which happened on Wednesday, this effort should include the disclosure of the RCI findings and the commitment to long term peace and security issue in Sabah,” she said.
She noted that SAPP had since the 1990s been calling the government to resolve the illegal immigrants problem in Sabah, which has been dubbed as the Mother of All Threats for Sabah.
What about tour operators?
Meanwhile Sabah Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) publicity chief Albert Kok described Wan Junaidi’s reactions as “ridiculous”. He said Wan Junaidi had obviously had not taken the interests of travel operators into account when he made that suggestion.
He also pointed out that the Singamata Reefs Resort was not even 1.5 kilometres away from Semporna, and as such was “not isolated”. He further contended that Wan Junaidi should instruct the police and military to intensify their patrol at high-risk areas, to ensure no intruders could encroach our waters.
“At the same time, enforcement efforts should be stepped up to ensure no foreigners without proper documentation are working in resorts,” he said.
Echoing Kok’s views is Sabah PKR deputy chairperson Christina Liew. She said Wan Junaidi’s suggestion would be a ‘double injury blow’ to Sabah tourism.
“This (Wan Junaidi’s suggestion) is tantamount to asking Sabah to cease its tourism industry, in order to prevent tourists from coming to Sabah to get hurt or from being kidnapped. He is insulting the intelligence of the people. Is this the best solution to the issue that he could think of and come up with? Doesn’t he realize how demoralizing his statement is to the tourism operators in Sabah who have spent so much money, time and effort to set up their operations?” she asked.
FMT Borneo Plus
Wan Junadi had said that the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) under which the Esszone is could not provide round- the- clock security to these island. But the irony is that last Wednesday’s abduction happened right under Esscom’s nose. This is the second incident since Esscom was set up.
The Singamata Reef Resort from where a Chinese and Filipino national were kidnapped by armed masked men on April 2 is less than a “5 minutes (1.5 km) boat ride” from Semporna, one of 10 districts under the Esscom-Esszone jurisdiction. Condemning the suggestion, Chia said the government cannot shrug off its responsibility just like that.
“The Deputy Home Minister is being highly irresponsible. “If he cannot discharge his duty, he should let somebody else who is more capable to take over his job. How could he not know that the resort where the abduction happened is only a 5 minutes boat ride from Semporna town. His solution is as if the Minister should cut off his hand if his hand is immobilized. Shouldn’t he think of how to heal his hand instead? “ asked Chia.
Chia has called for the early release of the outcome of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in Sabah. The RCI into the illegal immigrants was completed in September last year and is yet to release its findings.
Chia, who is also SAPP women chief, said the RCI findings was pertinent as the Sabah Police Chief Hamza Taib had reportedly said that last Wednesday’s abduction of two foreign national was an “inside” job. She asserted that the long term solution to peace and security in Sabah is highly dependent on the outcome on the RCI.
“As the call by the Chief Minister for all efforts to be directed to resolve the abduction which happened on Wednesday, this effort should include the disclosure of the RCI findings and the commitment to long term peace and security issue in Sabah,” she said.
She noted that SAPP had since the 1990s been calling the government to resolve the illegal immigrants problem in Sabah, which has been dubbed as the Mother of All Threats for Sabah.
What about tour operators?
Meanwhile Sabah Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) publicity chief Albert Kok described Wan Junaidi’s reactions as “ridiculous”. He said Wan Junaidi had obviously had not taken the interests of travel operators into account when he made that suggestion.
He also pointed out that the Singamata Reefs Resort was not even 1.5 kilometres away from Semporna, and as such was “not isolated”. He further contended that Wan Junaidi should instruct the police and military to intensify their patrol at high-risk areas, to ensure no intruders could encroach our waters.
“At the same time, enforcement efforts should be stepped up to ensure no foreigners without proper documentation are working in resorts,” he said.
Echoing Kok’s views is Sabah PKR deputy chairperson Christina Liew. She said Wan Junaidi’s suggestion would be a ‘double injury blow’ to Sabah tourism.
“This (Wan Junaidi’s suggestion) is tantamount to asking Sabah to cease its tourism industry, in order to prevent tourists from coming to Sabah to get hurt or from being kidnapped. He is insulting the intelligence of the people. Is this the best solution to the issue that he could think of and come up with? Doesn’t he realize how demoralizing his statement is to the tourism operators in Sabah who have spent so much money, time and effort to set up their operations?” she asked.
FMT Borneo Plus
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