Calling it 'the mother of all problems', opposition lawmakers in Sabah today warned that  kidnappings of tourists and locals by foreign elements would colour Sabah as a failed state if treated too lightly.

PKR MP for Penampang Darell Leiking urged that these kidnappers be seen as 'terrorists' who came into Sabah fully-armed ‘to challenge our security, our sovereignty and to insult our defence capabilities’.

To this end, he said the government must declare a state of emergency in Sabah and show no mercy in defending the East Malaysian state's sovereignty.

“The solution is to show no mercy and to hunt down these terrorists as well as to deport all illegal immigrants from Sabah once and for all," Leiking said in a press statement.

Bernama reported earlier today that a caretaker and a worker both of Suluk descent were abducted from a fish farm by two armed men in Kampung Sapang, west of Pulau Timbun Mata in Semporna at 12.40 this morning.

It is the third abduction case along the east coast of Sabah this year.

Dubious identity cards

Echoing Leiking’s concerns were PKR Sabah state assemblyperson for Tamparuli Wilfred Bumburing and  DAP's Sandakan MP Stephen Wong Tien Fatt who both issued press statements urging more government action against illegal immigrants.

Bumburing said he had been highlighting since 2010 the fact that foreigners were taking over Sabah with thousands of refugees from southern Philippines being given dubious identity cards allowing them to stay in Sabah permanently.

 

"I have warned the federal government that indigenous Sabahans could end up being refugees in their own land," said Bumburing.

"Even with the setting up of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the matter, I remain skeptical. The effectiveness of the RCI set up by Umno has yet to be seen," he added.

'Zahid Hamidi to blame'

The federal government had before this been urged to either reveal the RCI’s report or table it in Parliament for debate. The RCI - set up in September 2012 - completed its hearings early this year and submitted its findings to the government on May 18.

DAP's Stephen Wong, meanwhile, said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi ( right ) and Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman should be responsible for the infestation of foreigners in Sabah.

"Especially Ahmad Zahid who has failed to protect Sabahans. Let someone who is more capable handle the issue and take his place," Wong said.

On June 11, Wong said he and two other Pakatan Mps handed over a memorandum for Najib which was received by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Shahidan Kassim.

"Did the prime minister read our memorandum?

"We listed eight suggestions including resolving corruption issues as well as increasing troop deployments in Sabah to solve the problem.

“We are suggesting a more comprehensive way to review Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) instead of merely increasing its assets which won’t really solve issues," Wong said.

One Sabah kidnap over, another takes place

Victim urged abductors not to disturb his wife