 |
| The plan to move Lok Kawi army camp from Kota Kinabalu to the east coast is to ensure better security surveillance and protection of national sovereignty. -- NSTP/KHAIRULL AZRY BIDIN. By Olivia Miwil - August 7, 2019 @ 1:57pm
KOTA KINABALU: The plan to move Lok Kawi army camp from Kota Kinabalu to the east coast is to ensure better security surveillance and protection of national sovereignty.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said recommendation for the relocation had to be made to the Federal government due to frequent cross-border crimes and security threats at hotspots in the east coast of the state.
“In order to ensure safety of people in the east coast of Sabah, we will require a new brigade (13th Brigade Cendrawasih) to be set up and based in Lahad Datu.
“The army's presence will be strengthened with the addition of a battalion for the Border Regiment at San Shui in Tawau,” he said in a reply to Datuk Japlin Akim (PPBM- Usukan) during the 15th state assembly sitting here, today.
He said the additional battalion would be a deterrent factor against criminal activities.
Japlin had earlier asked the rationale of shifting Lok Kawi army camp to the east coast, its cost and whether there were any proposal to increase the number of defence assets, as well as the timeline for the restructuring of Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) to take place.
Currently, Lok Kawi army camp has been turned into the fifth headquarters of the Infantry Division which means that the army's capability in Sabah has been elevated to Division level.
At the same time, the previous fifth brigade headquarters, which was based at Lok Kawi, has been moved to Paradise camp in Kota Belud.
Mohd Shafie, who is also state Security Council chairman, assured that the government would always prioritise improvement of national security by having more assets and detection sensors at the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone).
“For example, the state government has proposed that the Air Force at the Esszone to have better monitoring of cross border crimes and to be handled more effectively.
“Adding defence assets will depend on approved allocations. The government is also doing a study to restructure the roles and functions for Esscom’s enforcement,” he added.
On a supplementary question by Japlin whether the integrated monitoring system or radar was modern enough to handle the task given, Mohd Shafie replied that the equipment was up to standard.
“We know our bordered (areas) are vast. It is not easy to monitor even with placement of personnel, the usage of speed boat and aircraft.
“Other new concept is to have new surveillance method using drones, which is a manual system. If done systematically, it can detect the intrusion of boats and other negative elements,” he said.
On another question by Abdul Rahman Kongkawang (Parti Bersatu Sabah-Labuk) on the operation of the new Beluran base camp, Mohd Shafie said it was in need of more funds from the Federal government.
|
Comments
Post a Comment