Locals wrote Sabah attack letter, say cops'

By OLIVIA MIWIL | olivia@nst.com.my 

25 July 2013| last updated at 12:39AM

DIFFERENT AGENDA': Language used indicates it did not come from Sulu sultanate sympathisers

 KOTA KINABALU: PEOPLE with a different agenda are believed to be the culprits behind a letter threatening to  cause chaos in Tambunan, said the state police commissioner  
Datuk Hamza Taib said the language used in the letter suggested that it could have been written by locals and not by sympathisers of the Sulu sultanate.
While there were many possibilities about why the letter was sent, he gave an assurance that police would leave no stone unturned in the investigation.
"We have analysed the language used in the letter and believe that it may have been written by people with a different agenda or motive (compared with Sulu sultanate sympathisers)," he said at the pre-launch of Ops Selamat, a safety and security programme for the Hari Raya holidays here on Tuesday.
The letter, dated July 3, was sent to the Tambunan district office, and threatened to cause chaos in the interior district to avenge the gunmen who landed in Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu, in February.
At that time, in response to the threat to national sovereignty, security forces had launched a strike against the gunmen, which resulted in some 70 of them being killed, while 30 are awaiting trial for various offences.
On Ops Selamat, he said, it was to remind the public about road safety and the importance of crime prevention during the holidays.
Present were state deputy police commissioner Datuk Tan Kok Lian, state Customs director Dr Janathan Kandok, state Road Safety Department director Herdiansah Abd Karim and city police chief Assistant Commissioner Jauteh Dikun.
At a separate function here yesterday, Hamza warned policemen in the state that should they break the rules, they would have to pay the fine.
Some 770 summonses were issued to policemen for various offences while using police vehicles in the state over the last five years. The fines collected totalled RM179,290.
"We will not compromise on those who violate the rules while driving police cars," Hamza said after witnessing the handing over of 93 new Proton Preve cars that will be used at the headquarters here and in all 20 district police stations.
They will replace Proton Wira cars, which had been leased for the last five years from fleet management company Spanco Sdn Bhd.
Four lorries and 39 motorcycles will be sent to the Eastern Sabah Security Command for use in eight stations under the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone.
"The new vehicles will improve our efficiency in carrying out our duties."
He reminded those who had been assigned the use of the vehicles to be responsible for their maintenance.
On complaints received, Hamza said they included usage abuse, failure to follow scheduled maintenance and unauthorised removal of police logos or stickers.
Thirty-nine motorcycles and four lorries were sent to the Eastern Sabah Security Command for use in eight stations under the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone. Also, 93 Proton Preve cars will be used at the police headquarters in Kota Kinabalu and 20 district police stations. Pic by Mohd Adam Arinin

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