SIBU: In light of the recent kidnapping of four Sarawakian seamen from Sibu by suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen in Pulau Ligitan waters off Semporna in Sabah’s east coast, Dudong assemblyman Yap Hoi Liong has suggested that the Sarawak and Sabah governments be autonomous in the defense of their own territories and citizens.
He said that despite repeated assurance from the federal government and the establishment of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) in 2013 to strengthen maritime security, kidnappings and other crimes committed by militants and other criminals continued to occur along the estimated 1,700km of the volatile east coast of Sabah from Kudat to Tawau.
“Recent kidnappings clearly show that the federal government and Esscom have failed to effectively protect us. If they cannot provide the necessary protection to the sovereignty of the country and its citizens, we should demand the right to defend ourselves,” Yap insisted.
On April 2, four Sarawakian seamen were kidnapped by eight gunmen who boarded the tugboatMassive 6 about 100km from Tawau. It was reported that the tug boat was on its way to Tawau from Manila.
The young Sarawakians were identified as Johnny Lau Jung Hien 21, Wong Teck Chii 29, Wong Teck Kang 31 and Wong Hung Sing 34.
The gunmen had spared the remainder of the crew - three Myanmar and two Indonesian nationals who were allowed to leave and continue sailing to Tawau.
This tragic incident happened just days after 10 Indonesian crewmen from another tug boat were similarly abducted in the Philippine waters near Sabah on March 26. Indonesian authorities had disclosed that the 10 crewmen were abducted by the notorious Abu Sayyaf militant group which had already contacted the owner of the vessel and demanded a ransom of US$1.08 million.
Another recent kidnapping committed by the Abu Sayyaf militants happened on 14 May 2015, when they stormed a seafood restaurant in Sandakan and took away the lady owner Thien Nyuk Fun, then 50, and a male Sarawakian customer Bernard Then, then 39.
Thien was released by her captors on Nov 8 after a ransom was reportedly paid. However, Then, an electrical engineer, was beheaded by the gunmen on Jolo island on Nov 11.
Yap said the continuous kidnapping for ransom has created anguish and fear among the people of Sabah and Sarawak.
He blamed the federal government for its inability to protect the country and its people, adding that it was unacceptable that no one had ever taken responsibility or been held accountable for the serious security breaches.
“It is therefore high time for Sarawak and Sabah leaders to demand for the right to defend their own territories and people.
“I believe Sarawak and Sabah know best how to defend themselves,” Yap added.-The Ant Daily
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