SIBU, March 28- The 1 Malaysia Foundation is all for the setting up of the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone or ESSZONE. Its trustee Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye(Pic) said it would beef up security not only in Eastern Sabah but the whole state as well to prevent a recurrence of the Lahad Datu incident which claimed the lives of 10 security personnel.
“Beefing up security and implementing innovative measures to ensure Sabah’s safety, sovereignty and territorial integrity will help boost public and investors’ confidence.
“When people feel safe, many general economic activities can be carried out and life will not be disrupted,” he told a press conference here today. The Lahad Datu incident, he said “is a timely reminder to all Malaysians to reinforce their patriotic spirit for the nation and not to take the existing peace and security for granted.”
On another matter, Lee, who is also the chairman of the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF), said the foundation was pleased to note that the initiatives under the Reducing Crime National Key result Area(CRI-NKRA) had resulted in a significant drop in the crime index over the last three years.
“We have seen a 27 per cent drop in the crime index and a 41 per cent drop in the street crime index.
“While we all welcome this, we hope the police can secure greater public confidence in their efforts to fight crime.”
He also said the government’s Blue Ocean strategy was very innovative and an excellent idea.
“But what we would want the police to do more when doing their joint patrolling with the army, RELA and Civil Defence personnel, is to talk or engage the local population in order to create a people-friendly image of the force to earn their even greater co-operation and trust,” he added.
BERNAMA
