MCA: Abduction another black eye for gov't
Published: Apr 4, 2014 2:00 PM | Updated: Apr 4, 2014 3:46 PM
The latest kidnapping of a Chinese national and a Filipina in Sabah has further eroded the people's faith in the government, said MCA, which today called for a review of security in the state.
Wee Jeck Seng says the incident has further sullied the country's image.
The latest kidnapping of a Chinese national and a Filipina in Sabah has further eroded the people's faith in the government, said MCA, which today called for a review of security in the state.
"The recent kidnapping case will only cause the people to lose faith in the government, and as such we must thoroughly review our security procedures," MCA deputy secretary-general Wee Jeck Seng said in a statement.
Wee (left) said the latest incident, which occurred in the midst of strained ties between China and Malaysia over the missing Flight MH370, has further sullied the country's reputation.
"Malaysia's image is once again marred over the recent abduction by armed men at the Singamata Reef Resort, Sabah," he said.
The kidnapping on Wednesday night off Semporna, a town on the eastern coast of Sabah, comes less than four months after a similar incident at nearby Pom-Pom Island where a Taiwanese man was murdered and his wife abducted to the Philippines.
In the latest incident, seven armed men had travelled by speedboat to the resort and left at around 11pm, after abducting Chinese tourist Gao Huayuan, 29, and Filipina resort employee Marcy Darawan @ Mimi, 40.
Police have since arrested three men and a woman to facilitate investigations, according to The Star.
"We are getting their statements and are continuing our investigations," Sabah police commissioner Hamza Taib is quoted as saying.
'Esscom not just about placing personnel'
Wee also questioned the efficiency of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) after last year's incursion into Lahad Datu by Filipino militants, which left nine members of the Malaysian security forces and at least 67 Sulu fighters dead.
"Although a security zone has been established, its original intention was not to simply place soldiers there, but rather to ensure a rapid response to any harmful incident.
"Today, the reputation of Sabah as a paradise for tourists has been affected.
"We must assure tourists that they can travel without fear, and the authorities must also do their best to release the hostages, as well as strengthen regional security with the help of the local coastal residents," he said.
However, Wee said, security was not solely the government's responsibility and citizens and tourists must also play their role to alert the authorities about suspicious activities in the state.
"The recent kidnapping case will only cause the people to lose faith in the government, and as such we must thoroughly review our security procedures," MCA deputy secretary-general Wee Jeck Seng said in a statement.
Wee (left) said the latest incident, which occurred in the midst of strained ties between China and Malaysia over the missing Flight MH370, has further sullied the country's reputation."Malaysia's image is once again marred over the recent abduction by armed men at the Singamata Reef Resort, Sabah," he said.
The kidnapping on Wednesday night off Semporna, a town on the eastern coast of Sabah, comes less than four months after a similar incident at nearby Pom-Pom Island where a Taiwanese man was murdered and his wife abducted to the Philippines.
In the latest incident, seven armed men had travelled by speedboat to the resort and left at around 11pm, after abducting Chinese tourist Gao Huayuan, 29, and Filipina resort employee Marcy Darawan @ Mimi, 40.
Police have since arrested three men and a woman to facilitate investigations, according to The Star.
"We are getting their statements and are continuing our investigations," Sabah police commissioner Hamza Taib is quoted as saying.
'Esscom not just about placing personnel'
Wee also questioned the efficiency of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) after last year's incursion into Lahad Datu by Filipino militants, which left nine members of the Malaysian security forces and at least 67 Sulu fighters dead.
"Although a security zone has been established, its original intention was not to simply place soldiers there, but rather to ensure a rapid response to any harmful incident."Today, the reputation of Sabah as a paradise for tourists has been affected.
"We must assure tourists that they can travel without fear, and the authorities must also do their best to release the hostages, as well as strengthen regional security with the help of the local coastal residents," he said.
However, Wee said, security was not solely the government's responsibility and citizens and tourists must also play their role to alert the authorities about suspicious activities in the state.
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