Strong ties a must for Sabah border security.

KOTA KINABALU: Stronger bilateral ties is the way to go for Sabah to enhance security along its border.

University Malaysia Sabah lecturer Professor Dr Kamaruzaman Askandar opined relationships between countries that share the border was the key in boosting security especially against threats coming from southern Philippines.

"The movement of people from southern Philippines have long existed due to political instability," he said after launching a two-day workshop on Border and Security in Sabah at the university here yesterday.
 

"Though there are laws to ensure the security at the borders it is difficult to control them as it is a vast open border," he said.
 

Kamaruzaman, whose studies focus on conflicts in Southeast Asia, said by brokering the peace deal between Philippine government and the Bangsamoro, represented by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Malaysia is bound to benefit from it in the long run.
 

"As for non-traditional security issue in Sabah, it is usually caused by differences of ethnicity, religion, and socioeconomic status.
 

"When certain quarters voiced out their dissatisfaction on matters that they think are unfair, for example theSabah Sarawak Keluar Malaysia group (that has called for a review on the Malaysia Agreement), it poses threat to national security," he added.
  

The lecturer from the university's Humanities, Arts and Heritage faculty was among 15 academicians who contribute their research findings and studies on Sabah borders with Royal Malaysian Police and students during the programme.

Among topics discussed include heritage, ethnicity, management of the small islands in Sabah, socialsecurity, East coast people's perception on safety, migration, Bangsamoro Peace Deal and Implications towards Philippines-Malaysia Relations, and smuggling activities.

Earlier, UMS vice chancellor Datuk Dr Mohd Harun Abdullah said he hoped the university would be able to contribute relevant suggestions to the government to strengthen security in the state.

"As security is everyone's responsibility, our own people should help in becoming the 'eyes and ears' for the country," he said.