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Lahad Datu: A lesson for us to learn



Sovereignty of a country is the most important requirement of an existence of that country. If there is a threat to the independence of the country, it cannot be tolerated for any other reason. The people need to be united and support the measures taken by the relevant authorities to quell the threat without any fears and indifference of the opinions on that issue.

Sadly in Lahad Datu’s incident some never see this as a national threat issue where the sovereignty of our beloved country has been questioned by foreign terrorists. They try to ‘hijack’ the real issue for their own political mileages. This is totally unacceptable. National security cannot be compromised for any reason. We have the duty to defense our country’s border. The falls of some members of security forces to shield our country’s independence cannot be disparaged like in case of Lahad Datu intrusion.  They need to be label as ‘unsung heroes’ of our country.

The use of Security Offences (special Measures) Act [SOSMA] 2012 and the creation of Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) are to prevent further escalation of these terrorists to terrorize our people in Sabah. Maritime security is the biggest security problem that we are facing now and this because of our borders which extend from Perlis to Sabah.

This intrusion has highlighted to us the need of great attention to enhance our border security. Prior to ESSCOM, we had RASCOM which was set up by the National Security Council on March 25, 1972 (and dismantled on April 6, 1995) to combat communist insurgency from the Northern Kalimantan People’s Party (Paraku) in central Sarawak in Sibu, Kapit, Sarikei, Mukah. 

At this juncture now, we have to create more Security Command(s) not only in Sabah and Sarawak but in Peninsula Malaysia as well. The threat from the Pattani separatists who always overflow to Malaysia is very evidential in recent times. Even though Acheh separatists in Indonesia had already crippled but the threat is always exits. The prevention measures are always better than the cure. We need to take drastic measures to enhance our intelligence to prevent further intrusion from foreign terrorists, insurgents or intruders for not to jeopardize our national security.

Therefore we need to give our undivided backing to our relevant authorities and security forces when there is a threat to national security. 

[Note: This is an updated version of an article which was published in NST on 27/3/2013]

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