Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has directed the Sabah police to heighten security surveillance in the run-up to the presidential election of the neighbouring country, the Philippines.
Hajiji said he wanted the police to monitor the situation since the issue of Sabah’s claim would always be a hot topic used by Philippine presidential candidates to gain support from voters.
“The heat from the Philippines presidential election that will be held on May 9 needs to be monitored closely by our police, especially the Special Branch,” he said in a statement Monday.
Earlier, Hajiji visited the Sabah police contingent headquarters in Kepayan. Also present were Sabah Federal Secretary Datuk Sarul Bahiyah Abu and Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Idris Abdullah.
Hajiji also said he was satisfied with the overall security in the State.
“Based on the briefing by the Sabah Police Commissioner and his officers, I am glad to hear that we are in the good hands of the PDRM (Polis Diraja Malaysia),” he said.
On the issue of Sabah being used as a transit for illicit drug trafficking, Hajiji hoped the police would continue to monitor the situation because the spill-over of the substances into the state would create major social issues.
He also said he had requested the Sabah police to prepare a paper on the reinstatement of the ban on pump boats in Sabah to be presented during the State Security Committee meeting this year.
He said this is because alternatives must be given in order for the ban to be executed.
The State Security Committee had approved the reinstatement of the ban on pump boats in Sabah last year.
He also directed State Secretary Datuk Seri Sr Safar Untong, who also attended the briefing, to look into the land application to build a new base for the marine police in the city and for the Nabawan General Operations Force base.
“The applications must be given priority because this involves security and the State’s sovereignty,” he said.
On the issue of firearms licences, Hajiji agreed that the power to approve the licence be given to the Sabah Commissioner of Police just like in Sarawak.
“I will bring up the matter to the Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister,” he said.
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