WEAKNESSES: Security breaches off Sabah caused by human factors
KUALA LUMPUR: LEAKAGE of vital information and corruption involving security forces personnel are the main weaknesses that contributed to the recent security breaches at the coastal waters off Sabah, said Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
The defence minister said the repeated intrusions were not attributable to weaknesses in the deployment of security forces’ assets, but due to human factors of corruption, leakages and credibility of the security forces personnel.
Hishammuddin, in acknowledging that there was an urgent need to address the weaknesses, said the ministry had reviewed Eastern Sabah Security Command’s roles and functions to strengthen maritime security in the eastern part of Sabah.
“This is not an easy challenge as it also involves neighbouring countries. It involves smuggling, fighting corruption and threats from within and without.
“It also involves our technical position,” he said after chairing a meeting on the implementation of the sea basing concept in the Esszone (Eastern Sabah Security Zone) here yesterday.
Present were, Malaysian Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin, Esscom director-general Datuk Mohamad Mantek, representatives from Royal Malaysian Armed Forces, Royal Malaysian Navy, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and National Security Council.
Hishammuddin said more should be done to improve Esscom’s performance in ensuring security in the Esszone.
“Basically, the fact that there has been no insurgencies since the Lahad Datu intrusion is a testament of what we have done well.
“However, the fact that there are still threats and kidnapping cases show that there is more to be done.
“We can never be satisfied when it comes to the security and defence of our nation.”
Hishammuddin said the ministry had reviewed Esscom’s position, especially in terms of its handling of new threats and the role of some third parties, including Petronas, in providing their de-commissioned oil rigs to be used as forward bases.
He added that he would be visiting Sabah over the weekend to check on the 1,400km coastline, covered by Esscom.
“I will also have a look at the assets, including existing radars which are outdated, and potential forward operation bases,” he said, adding that he would also look at the security aspects of resorts in Esszone.
He said the ministry had identified two abandoned oil rigs to be used as forward bases that can be deployed by end of the year.
“There are two more oil rigs in Dungun, Terengganu that can be deployed immediately, but those are in the hands of a third party and we are currently negotiating the terms,” he said.
What is more important, he said, was to identify how the oil rigs would be utilised, where to position them and who would be put in-charge.
Hishammuddin said in the meeting yesterday, they touched on the software, hardware, human resources and intelligence aspects of Esscom.
The software aspect, he said, involved policy making and understanding the need to ensure the safety of the region, while the hardware aspect included the assets that needed to be deployed.
“On human aspect, we touched on the need to train our security forces personnel, while the intelligence aspect was on the involvement of local and international intelligence,” he said.
Hishammuddin said the outcome of the meeting would be presented to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the next National Security Council meeting.
“We would not get anywhere if all the parties and agencies involved do not put their heads together and plan things systematically.
“That is where our weakness was since the incident in Lahad Datu intrusion and that has to stop and it stops today,” he said.
-NST
