KOTA KINABALU – The Sabah government has no hesitation when it comes to beefing up security in the state, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
“Security is of the highest importance and we will give our utmost cooperation when considering matters seeking the state government’s approval,” he said.
Speaking after a briefing by the Royal Malaysian Police on Sabah’s current security situation led by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani at Menara Kinabalu here today, Hajiji said the state’s security lies on top of his agenda.
Hajiji said he has raised this issue all the time, with the latest was during the meeting of the Special Council on Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) yesterday chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
“I have requested for an increase in allocation to strengthen our security assets, especially on the east coast,” he added.
Accompanying Acryl were Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Hazani Ghazali, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Idris Abdullah as well as senior officers from Bukit Aman and Sabah police headquarters.
Hajiji also reiterated his call to upgrade the General Operations Force (GOF) security outposts at the Malaysia-Indonesia border in Sebatik Island.
During the briefing, Hajiji was told that two new GOF battalions would be set up at Nabawan and Kunak in addition to the state’s existing five battalions.
With seven battalions, Sabah will have the largest GOF presence in the country.
Also proposed was the establishment of the Skuadron 69 Commando to be stationed in Lahad Datu, at the new marine police base in Kampung Lok Poring, Sepanggar and a police training centre in Kampung Laya-Laya, Tuaran.
On the request for an additional area at the police air unit base in Tanjung Aru, Hajiji informed that it had already been approved. – Bernama, September 9, 2022
