On reactionary defences and fallacies in Sabah

Malaysia in terms of our defence and security budget has been reactionary throughout the ages, and it seems we have learned nothing from our past in dealing with piracy. In a book called "Misplaced Democracy: Malaysian Politics and People" edited by Sophie Lemière, one chapter highlighted this clearly.

Written by Eric Frécon, it highlighted Malaysia's on again and off again, lackadaisical commitment against piracy since 1991 to 2013. He also highlighted the issues of funding and continued pressure on local fishermen on the security of the Strait of Malacca.

It was highlighted that our local fishermen were so pressured that they had to pay a protection fee for a "certificate" from pirates in order to be secure, something never even mentioned in the media.

What was the government's solution to this?

Nothing. There was no increased funding in the recent 2015 budget speech. Instead, our government seemed keener to keep fishermen happy with a higher livelihood allowance and fixing up their houses. And, of course, the offer to fund mini aquaculture projects, which would actually require them to learn how to rear fish instead of fishing.

Were there any training programmes highlighted in the recent budget to do this? No.

Why is nobody highlighting this fallacy?

Furthermore, it was this government's inability to learn from the kidnappings that took place on Sipadan in 2000 that has now continued even to this day, fourteen years later.

And not only that, the government had also failed in 2013 to secure the maritime borders of Eastern Sabah, leading to the intrusion by armed pirates into Lahad Datu. One would have expected the two submarines to have been a deterrent against such intrusions. Instead, it was a waste of resources.

In 2015, this government allotted more than RM600 million to establish two military bases in Sabah to act as further deterrents, and also move our air force from Butterworth to Labuan.

While I support such actions, this only took place 14 years after Sipadan. What was being done in between? And even with the Eastern Sabah Security Command established, there are still cases of kidnappings.

So we have to ask ourselves: “Would such random and one time off promise to fund defence and security even work?” So far, they have not.

And to this day, have we even calculated the tangible losses wrought up by that intrusion? The money lost from lost business opportunities, damaged aquaculture projects, even private and public property and loss in productivity?

At the end of the Lahad Datu intrusion in 2013, we saw families of citizens, policemen and our army members in grief. The government, whether they like it or not, is directly responsible for this intrusion.

Why do I say this? This was the second incursion on Lahad Datu in my 31-year lifetime. The first was when fifty some odd pirates attacked the town in 1985, killing ten people.

How did we not learn from that lesson? Even worse, couldn't these have been prevented by the lessons from Sipadan in 2000 for Sabah?

Could we not have learned from the attack of a tug boat off Tanjung Pelepas in 2011?

Why were we not pushing for better maritime defence then?

This government needs to understand that we cannot simply be reactionary when it comes to defence spending, especially for our maritime security.

We thrive on both trade and tourism. When neither of these is protected well, and word gets out to the international world, then this government outs itself as being weak and indecisive or not serious about both.

So I would like to add my writing as a voice to those of Senator Datuk Tibok Vanhout in 2000, Sheak Chee Chew of the Sandakan Fishing and Tongkang Association and the unnamed Secretary-General of the Committee for Fisheries, Agriculture and Rural Development.

The government needs to put its focus on maritime security and its efficiency. For Sabah, it is more than 1,000 kilometres of coastlines, with more than 400 nearby islands and a 20-minute boat ride to reach international waters, whereby our authorities are unable to continue.

Unless this government can guarantee swift action and security with this level of efficiency in mind, it is wasting its money and our prime minister might as well take an additional RM700 million to secure Sabah.

I would personally recommend taking it from the Permata budget.  – October 29, 2014.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.