DAP' Seputeh MP Teresa Kok is not keen to see Ahmad Zahid Hamidi slapped over the security breach in Sabah but wants the home minister to be accountable for Wednesday's cross-border kidnapping off the coast of Semporna.

"A slap threat is criminal intimidation and to support it is tantamount to replacing the rule of law with jungle laws. I am committed to rule of law and will never advocate jungle laws.

"If Zahid cannot provide a satisfactory and acceptable explanation for the security breach, he should have the sense of honour to offer his voluntary resignation as the home minister, failing which the option is for the prime minister to sack him," Kok said in a statement today.

She was responding to former Sabah Chief Minister Yong Teck Lee's offer of RM500 yesterday to slap Zahid for the repeated security breaches in the state.

Th offer appeared to be a jibe aimed at Ahmad Zahid who in February said there was no wrong in right-wing NGOs putting out a bounty for Kok to be slapped.

Kok said Yong's offer was totally "wrong and unacceptable” but said she was not showing support for Ahmad Zahid but merely adhering to the rule of law.

She also criticised the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) which had said it could not give direct orders to the ten districts under Esszone in light of the recent kidnapping.

Esscom corporate communications head Newmond Tibin yesterday reportedly said that every district had its own district police chief who answers to the state police commissioner Hamza Taib and  its role was merely to coordinate the agencies.

"This is quite a shocking announcement as the government has given the impression that with the setting up of Esscom, Sabah security will be ensured.

"The prime minister who launched Esscom in April last year to beef up security in Sabah should let Malaysians know if he accepts such an explanation," said Kok.

'Esscom's effectiveness a worry'

The Esscom was born in response to Sulu fighters from the Philippines incursion into Lahad Datu, Sabah, in February last year which left nine members of the Malaysian security forces and at least 67 of the intruders dead.

In December that year, a Taiwanese man was murdered and his wife kidnapped for ransom back to southern Philipines.

In the latest incident just four months later, Chinese tourist Gao Huayun, 29. and Filipino worker Marcy Dayawan @ Mimi, 40, were seized by seven gunmen on a speed boat at Singamata Adventures and Reef Resort, off theSemporna coast.

The hostages are believed to have been taken to southern Philippines and Manila, which believes it to be the work of Abu Sayyaf, has ordered a hunt for the group.

Kok's concern was similarly echoed by Gerakan deputy president Cheah Soon Hai who said that serious attention must be paid to Esscom's effectiveness.

“The apparent easy intrusion by foreign armed men is worrisome, we rightly expect our security forces to repel any possible foreign threat with necessary military vigilance, combat readiness and competence.

"The authorities should explain the recurrence of security breaches despite millions ringgit spent to beef up security along the Sabah east coast.

"Accountability and professionalism among soldiers is paramount and there is no acceptable excuse for negligence in duty and lack of sense of urgency in national defence,” he said.