The Prime Minister brought to mind the Lahad Datu intrusion in February 2013 that claimed the lives of 10 Malaysian security personnel and a member of the public, during which 67 intruders were also killed.
Since the incident, he said, various effective and comprehensive initiatives had been taken and innovations put in place to safeguard Sabah.
“The impact of the intrusion necessitated the establishment of ESSCom and the Eastern Sabah Security Zone to enhance Sabah’s security against hostile threats,” he said.
Najib said this when officiating the ground-breaking ceremony of the helicopter forward operating base (FOB) here, today.
The prime minister stressed that safeguarding the country, in this regard, Sabah, was not the responsibility of the security forces alone but also the people in the state.
He also said the locals must uphold three pertinent values i.e. unity and solidarity; love for country or patriotism as well as serving as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the security forces.
Thirdly, Najib said, the people should not be ‘the enemy within’ and betray the country by colluding with the enemy.
“Regretfully while we were fighting to death in defending the sovereignty of Sabah from terrorists, certain individuals could meet with parties that were linked to the intruders in Lahad Datu,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry in a statement today said RM90 million had been set aside for the FOB project that would be implemented early next month on 0.48ha at the Lahad Datu Airport.
The statement said the base involving a shelter and apron would be able to accommodate six helicopters.
The FOB would function as a transit centre and provide support to the Malaysian Armed Forces in their operations involving all types of helicopters as well as an operation centre to counter potential attacks and external threats.
A cabinet meeting on Aug 12, 2015 called for the ministry to urgently build a helicopter detachment infrastructure as a forward operating base to strengthen security in the state.
The FOB would also improve defence preparedness and security in the areas within ESSCom that was established in March 2013, said the statement.
Also present at the function were Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman.
– BERNAMA
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