The latest kidnapping in Sandakan by Filipino gunmen has caused MP Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN - Kinabatangan) to feel unsafe.

When debating an emergency motion on the kidnapping moved by Raime Unggi (BN - Tenom), Bung Mokhtar said sometimes he needed to reach certain parts of his constituency by boat.

"I fear I will be kidnapped anytime (while on water)," he told the House.

Bung Mokhtar said he was thankful all of his colleagues in Sabah were safe thus far and that none of them were abducted while eating at a restaurant.

He said he was concerned for their safety because they were high-value targets.

"We will be the first to be kidnapped.

"The government has promised that Sabah will be a safe place, hundreds of millions in allocations have been announced, but they have turned out to be empty promises.

 

"Sabahans are outraged, and say they can be kidnapped any time in their villages. In the border areas, four men in sarung (didn't bother to) cover their faces and picked whoever they wanted to abduct at gunpoint.

 

"This means the government's effort to battle the problems in Sabah, have failed," he declared.

 

He also asked why Eastern Sabah Security Command's (Esscom) request for RM150 million fell on deaf ears.

 

"How can Esscom perform its duties when it doesn’t even have boats and helicopters? In the US, we see non-stop patrolling by security forces at border areas," he asserted.

 

‘Reveal how RM660m spent’

Meanwhile, Madius Tangau (BN - Tuaran) said Putrajaya must reveal how the RM660 million was spent in Esscom and the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone).

 

Madius said he heard rumours that the annual allocation was fully spent in May.

 

"So where did the money go?" he asked.

 

The RM660 million allocated under Budget 2015,he said, were supposed to include two battalions, speedboats, helicopters and other facilities.

 

"Where are the assets? We cannot compromise on safety," he said.

 

He claimed that Sabahans were fed up with the government claiming that it had enhanced their security, yet they were still threatened by criminals and militants.

 

He also wondered why the curfew which involved six districts, failed to solve the problems, adding that the government should have a strategy in combating cross-border crimes.

 

'Esscom had not failed'

Meanwhile minister in the Prime Minister's Department Shahidan Kassim said the government needed cooperation from all quarters including the Philippines and the Esszone community, in solving these decades-old security issues.

 

However Shahidan ( photo ) denied Esscom had failed in combating crime, pointing out the team had stopped six attempts at abduction at Lahad Datu and Semporna, since its inception.

 

The government was taken by surprise by the latest abduction in Sandakan, which wasn't part of the area under curfew, he said in his wrap-up.

 

The criminals had moved to an area not governed by Esscom, he said.

 

Shahidan also promised to hasten procedures in asset procurement. He revealed the government has plans to purchase readymade assets, instead of constructing them.

 

For example, the government is eyeing to buy RM433.7 million worth of boats immediately, he said.

 

"We don't want boats, we want helicopters," interrupted Bung Mokhtar.

 

In reply, Shahidan explained this was being dealt with by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

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