Border Security Issues in Sabah

Border Security Issues in Sabah
Ford to unveil solar-powered hybrid car
Schumacher is a fighter who won’t give up, says family
Two Mexican clowns detained over kidnapping
Israel killed majority of those behind Buenos Aires blasts: ex-envoy
34 road violations recorded on New Year’s eve

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 06:40 PM PST

by R. Paneir Selvam. Posted on January 3, 2014, Friday

RECENTLY a Taiwanese man was shot dead by the terrorist and his female companion was kidnapped at gun point from the POM-POM Island which is situated outskirt of Semporna, Sabah.

POM-POM Island is one of the most popular tourist destinations for Taiwanese tourists. A few days ago, the female companion was rescued by Philippines security forces.

Again, people are questioning the measures taken by the relevant authorities and enforcement agencies for the lax of security in Sabah. And their obvious target is PDRM where the homeland security which comes within their jurisdiction.

The Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZONE) is a security zone in Sabah that includes the eastern districts of Kudat to Tawau. Meanwhile, The Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) is the authoritative body that oversees Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZONE).

Therefore many had questioned the effectiveness of ESSCOM and ESSZONE safeguarding the security issues in Sabah.

The points that these people who are so critical about the lax of security in Sabah are failed to understand the geographical and the vast border which starts from west to east and north to south is difficult to manage.

For an example the eastern coast of Sabah covers the area of 1,400 km.

The Lahad Datu and POM-POM Island terrorist attack can be classified as the transnational terrorist attack. This is why because of the vast border with open high sea makes security forces difficult to manage the border and led such lapse had occurred.

One had to remember, ESSOCOM and ESSZONE have been created a few months ago and the full fledge of the implementation of its strategies, policies and measures probably will need time to be successful.

Therefore blaming the current security forces of their lapse is inappropriate. One should engaged by evaluate the existing methods and procedures that the security forces using now and find ways to incorporate new and innovative methods and modes to enhance the security level in Sabah.

Not only by placing seven police stations and five battalions of security forces with a PGA brigade will enhance the security in Sabah, they also need to strength the efforts to increase the security of the nation's maritime borders by having Border Patrol agents, technology, and infrastructure.

The Border Patrol agents can be comprised of police, army, RELA, CUSTOM and Immigration officers. In addition, the authority must place Malaysia Special Operations Force which consists of 10 Paratrooper Brigade, Grup Gerak Khas (GGK), Pasukan Khas Laut (PASKAL), Pasukan Khas Udara (PASKAU), Pasukan Gerakan Khas (PGK), Unit Gempur Marin (UNGERIN), Trup Tindakan Cepat (meaning: Rapid Actions Troops) and Special Task And Rescue (STAR) in Sabah to increase the security level to deter the terrorist to launch another attack in Sabah. The presence of such forces will dissuade terrorists to launch another attack in Sabah.

Apart from that there is a need to deploy of Border Liaison Officers to collaborate with their Philippines and Indonesian counterparts on border security issues within 'triangle spectrum' where most of the breach of security is arising by sharing and exchanging intelligence.

Further the creation of more canine teams, non-intrusive inspection systems, Mobile Surveillance Systems, Remote Video Surveillance Systems, thermal imaging systems and radiation portal monitors will help the Border Patrol Agents to safeguard our borders exclusively in Sabah.

We also can secure our nation's maritime borders through a layered security system that begins beyond the country's physical borders. At-sea presence deters potential threats, provides mobile surveillance coverage, increases warning time, and enables Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MEAM) and/or other security forces to address potential threats before these terrorist can cause harm to the Sabah.

The relevant security forces also can conduct waterborne and aerial patrols as well as armed escorts at tourist destinations in Sabah and by putting high alert on the risk of terrorism to the Marine Transportation System, critical infrastructure and key resources will make the relevant security and enforcement agencies more vigilant.

We also can form Special Security Tasks Force on Maritime together with existing STAR which can respond rapidly to terrorist together existing security forces at critical areas in Sabah, which focus on domestic maritime threats and post-incident response.

In my view, past twenty years many security breaches had occurred on eastern coast of Sabah. This shows that the intelligence officers in this region need to be retrained by exposing various modern intelligence methods and modes so that they can be superior to terrorists.

Further intelligence apparatus need to be upgraded by incorporating latest technology to monitor, collect and analyze all the data regarding with the security issues. The findings of these analyses need to be shared with the public so that they can play a crucial role to prevent by informing to the security forces of forthcoming a terrorist attack.

One need to remember the assistance and collaboration of the public to deter such situation is important which was incorporated in the 9/11 Commission Report. The current intelligence officers who are failed to live the expectations need to be replaced instantaneously for the sake of national security.

If not, then another Lahad Datu terrorist's invasion is highly possible.

The successful of 'Operation Cantas' to curb the rising of crime recently can be taken as an yardstick where the relevant security forces similarly take necessary actions with great urgency to deter another terrorist attack in this soil again. According to United Kingdom government website i.e. gov.uk had placed Sabah on high alert where they indicated travellers to eastern coast must take high precautionary measures.

By this reflection on the foreign government website will damage the economics of the country but also the sovereignty of state will be in stake. We have to defend our nation with all means from foreign invasion whether from terrorist or intruders.

To be more effective, not only focusing on eastern coast of Sabah, the authority should extend the measures and strategies to the entire country. The government should not deterred by the criticism.

They also should not accelerate the implementation of measures to satisfy the critics. Managing national security especially border security issues need to be very discreet because it's involved international relations.

R. Paneir Selvam
Institute of Crime and Criminology/Department of Business Studies,
HELP University,
BZ-2, Pusat Bandar Damansara,
50490 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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Ford to unveil solar-powered hybrid car

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 06:19 PM PST

Ford announced plans Thursday for a prototype hybrid car that uses solar energy from a rooftop charger, reducing gas use and avoiding the need for plugging into the electric grid.

The US auto giant said its C-MAX Solar Energi concept car with a solar panel roof draws power from a special solar concentrator lens similar to a magnifying glass.

The vehicle, which will be on display at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week, is estimated to reduce the annual greenhouse gas emissions a typical car owner would produce by four metric tons.

The new system aims to rev up sales of electic and hybrid vehicles without the plug-in requirement of some current models.

Ford said the system tracks the sun as it moves from east to west, drawing enough power from the solar rays each day to equal a four-hour battery charge.

Ford said this car would deliver an estimated 100 miles (160 kilometers) per gallon (3.8 liters) of gasoline.

"Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept shines a new light on electric transportation and renewable energy," said Mike Tinskey, Ford global director of vehicle electrification and infrastructure.

"As an innovation leader, we want to further the public dialogue about the art of the possible in moving the world toward a cleaner future."

The car is a collaborative project of Ford, California-based SunPower Corp. and the Georgia Institute of Technology.-AFP

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Schumacher is a fighter who won’t give up, says family

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 06:17 PM PST

The family of Michael Schumacher described the Formula One legend as a fighter who "will not give up", as he turned 45 Friday while lying comatose in a French hospital.

PARIS: The family of Michael Schumacher described the Formula One legend as a fighter who "will not give up", as he turned 45 Friday while lying comatose in a French hospital.

"Following Michael's skiing accident, we would like to thank the people from all around the world who have expressed their sympathy and sent their best wishes for his recovery," the Schumacher family said in a statement posted on the German racing great's website.

"We all know he is a fighter and will not give up" they added, in the message coinciding with his birthday.

Doctors and family members had been tight-lipped Thursday about the condition of the retired Formula One champion, who has been hospitalised since Sunday, when he slammed his head against a rock while skiing in the French Alps.

The Ferrari F1 team, where Schumacher spent many years, announced it would on Friday hold a "silent gathering" in front of the Grenoble hospital where he is being treated to mark the birthday of their ex-driver, who is being kept in an induced coma.

Schumacher has had two operations to remove bleeding and pressure on his brain.

Prosecutors have opened a probe into the accident, as is common practice in France in such cases, and are exploring the theory that Schumacher was skiing at great speed when he fell.

Schumacher, who made his Formula One debut in 1991, dominated the sport, winning more world titles and races than any other driver.

He first retired aged 37 but was unable to resist the lure of the track. In 2010 he came out of retirement but could not recover his previous levels of performance and quit for good in 2012.

As an F1 racer, Schumacher was known for his daring overtaking manoeuvres, his at-times almost reckless abandon in the pursuit of victory and his mastery of tricky conditions presented by rain.-AFP

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Two Mexican clowns detained over kidnapping

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 06:14 PM PST

Two men who worked as clowns named "Pistachon" and "Freski Star" in western Mexico have been arrested in connection with an alleged kidnapping, authorities said Thursday.

The two suspects, 21 and 22 years old, were detained along with two associates on Tuesday as they tried to collect a second payment from the family of a kidnap victim, the Michoacan state prosecutor's office said in a statement.

The two suspects kidnapped a young man in the state capital Morelia on December 18 when they met him to rent video and sound equipment from the victim for a show, the statement said.

They demanded a 100,000-peso ($7,500) ransom but accepted a first payment of $1,500 from the family and freed their hostage pending a second payment of almost $2,000.

The pair, who are linked to at least one other kidnapping, were not in their clown suits at the time of their arrest, authorities said.

While murders fell nationwide last year, kidnappings have soared, with interior ministry figures showing 1,583 abductions between January and November compared to 1,317 in all of 2012.

But a survey by the national statistics institute revealed a more startling figure of more than 105,000 kidnappings in 2012 in the country of 118 million people, or almost 290 per day.

It is also the second crime involving clowns in recent months in Mexico.

In October, former drug capo Francisco Arellano Felix was shot dead by a man in a clown suit and makeup at a party in the northwestern beach resort of Cabo San Lucas.-AFP

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Israel killed majority of those behind Buenos Aires blasts: ex-envoy

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 06:13 PM PST

Israel has killed most of those behind the deadly attacks on its embassy and a Jewish charities building in Argentina in the 1990s, a former Israeli envoy said Thursday.

The July 1994 bombing of the Argentine Jewish Charities Federation (AMIA) building in Buenos Aires killed 85 people. Hundreds were hurt in a bombing Argentina says was masterminded by Iran.

Two years earlier, in March 1992, a car bombing in front of the Israeli embassy in the capital killed 29 and wounded 200 others.

"The large majority of those responsible are no longer of this world, and we did it ourselves," Itzhak Aviran, who was Israel's ambassador to Argentina from 1993 to 2000, told the Buenos Aires-based AJN Jewish news agency.

Two decades after the blasts, those who instigated them have not been brought to justice.

Neither Carlos Menem, who was Argentina's president from 1989 to 1999, nor his successor Fernando de la Rua and those who followed "did anything to get to the bottom of this tragedy," Aviran said.

"We still need an answer (from the Argentine government) on what happened," he added. "We know who the perpetrators of the embassy bombing were and they did it a second time."

Argentine courts have charged eight Iranians over the AMIA bombing and authorities are demanding their extradition. They include former defense minister Ahmad Vahidi and ex-president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Argentine authorities also suspect Iran of being behind the 1992 bombing.

Iran has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks.

Argentina's 300,000-strong Jewish community is the largest in Latin America.-AFP

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34 road violations recorded on New Year’s eve

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 06:09 PM PST

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: During the New Year's Eve operation, a total of 34 offences were recorded by the traffic police. The roadblock at Jln Estate, Jln Beribi and towards Kiulap roundabout. 22 offences under road traffic act Chapter 68 were recorded, Borneo Bulletin reported.

The offences were for expired driving license and roadtax. failure to paste roadtax, passengers overload, using sport rims, tinted windows, modified licence plate and car suspension, illegal headlights and the influence and worn-out tyres.

At Jln Estate was led by Insp Aslin bin Masri and involved 25 personnel. Jln Beribi towards Kiulap roundabout was led by Insp Pg Mohd Aminul Sarni bin Hj sarpuddin and also involved 25 personnel.

Meanwhile 12 cases were reported in jln Tengah in Anduki serialed by Insp fadillah Hj Ibrahim involving 24 personnel. This roadblock make step up safety and alertness while behind the wheel.

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