The naval patrol boat CB204  incident clearly uncovers the unpreparedness of the Malaysian navy to protect Sabah and Sarawak in the event of any security threat, said State Reform Party (Star Sabah) chief Jeffrey Kitingan.

It is a blessing in disguise and should serve as a wake-up call for the federal government to re-assess its commitment to protect the two states, he said when commenting on the patrol boat found some 30 hours after of loss of contact with its 7-man crew starving.

 

Jeffrey ( standing ) said: “Many questions are raised that show that the navy may not be prepared in any security incident or skirmish with non-friendly or enemy intruders.

 

“The mechanical breakdown, communications breakdown with difference in frequencies and subsequent loss of communication and the 30-hours search raises red-flags and caution,” he said.

He opined that the search would definitely have taken longer if not for a oil-production platform, “ERB West Oil Rig, located nine nautical miles northeast of  Pulau Mengalum, that sighted the stranded boat and alerted the authorities.

 

“The navy ought to thank Sabah state for having oil resources for this fortunate turn of event. If not, the patrol boat may not be found or heaven forbid if found another day or two later, what could have happened to the crew that were already starving to the death?” he asked.

 

Jeffrey, who is the Bingkor assemblyperson, said at the readiness level, the naval vessel was obviously not battle-ready.

Unbelievable state of affairs

It is unbelievable that the vessel carried little or no rations that could not have lasted for more than a few hours, he said, adding that a week’s ration for seven men of 196 packets assuming they consumed four meals a day could not have been more than two carton boxes, he said,

 

One wonders, he said, if they had enough ammunition for week or a few hours if they were to encounter introders  whether they had sufficient supplies of ammunition for a week or for a few hours if they were to encounter intruders but taking the food rations as an indication, it could not have been more than  a few hours.  

“How to fight for a week with a week’s ammunition if the food is only for a few hours?” he said, pointing out that the unpreparedness for battle shows that the federal government’s hypocritical s attitude towards Sabah’s security.

“They need to be constantly be reminded that Sabah and Sarawak agreed to the formation of Malaysia on the twin pillars and promises of security and development. It looks like the federal government has failed on both counts,” he said.

 

Jeffrey recalled that only weeks ago, the defence minister himself said that IS militants were ready to invade Sabah to create an Islamic caliphate, yet this warning has not reached his navy to be ready for battle when it happens.

“Unless, of course, the minister was lying in order to frighten Sabahans,” he said.

 

He added that missing patrol boat government and the IS threat should wake up the state government so it prepared to take the necessary action to safeguard Sabah.

“They should consider setting up Sabah’s own security forces to complement federal security teams as the government of Malaysia has shown that it is unable to effectively protect Sabah.

“It needs no reminding that the Sabah Border Scouts served with distinction during World War 2 with the allied forces from Britain, Australia, New Zealand and others. 

"Such is the make-up of Sabahans if they are indeed called upon to defend their homeland,” he said.