KOTA KINABALU: Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan reminded the Federal Government that Sabah still has security issues that needs to be resolved with urgency.
Tawfiq stressed that these security issues plaguing Sabah were a cause for concern and urged the Federal Government to keep its promise to resolve them expeditiously.
“We want the Federal Government to honour their promises and do something about these security issues,” he said at the Sabah Youth Consultative Council meeting yesterday
He said the people of Sabah were tired of guarantees and wanted tangible action.
“We are tired of guarantees. We want the Federal Government to look into the implementation (of security efforts) and to provide the budget for its implementation,” he stressed.
Tawfiq said that due to these security issues plaguing Sabah, many tourists have opted not to come to Sabah.
“Even I am scared of walking along the beach,” he said.
He said that while Sabah is fortunate that it now has the Eastern Sabah Security Command or ESSCom, it is constantly reminded and aware that these threats are still there, particularly in Lahad Datu.
He also called on the younger generation not to allow any avenue for threats to infiltrate Sabah.
“Arguments and exchanges on our differences could give way for the global militants to enter our country. Then the 51 years of independence we have so long enjoyed will be disrupted instantly,” he said.
Tawfiq said he noted that many Malaysians, including Sabahans, have taken the peace we are now enjoying for granted. As a reminder, he said the war raging in the Middle East arose because of the differences in beliefs.
The war there, he said, has impacted us, particularly the youths, as they were hindered from realising their full potentials.
“Our youths must ponder of these and not allow our country to fall into the same situation,” Tawfiq urged.
He also reminded Sabahan youths that the foundation of peace in the country is due to the people’s attitude of constantly showing respect to others despite their differences in race and beliefs.
“Sabah is the epitome of the 1Malaysia concept … in Sabah, you can find people of different racial background and religion having no qualms about sitting together in a coffee shop. You cannot find the same scenario in West Malaysia,” he said.