Securing our borders

 

N. Shashi Kala, fz.com 

 

YEARS ago my parents lived in Rompin, Pahang, a small mining town that was pretty much self-contained, complete with a club house, airstrip and the all-important Cold Storage.

 

Anyway, everyone knew everyone, and people used to go out without locking their doors. There were no safety issues.

 

Years later, when they moved to Johor Baru, they stayed in a new housing estate in the suburbs. Back then, they used to keep the front door open, and the outside gate was unlocked. It was true of most of the houses there. Your neighbours watched out for you, and you did the same.

 

But as more and more unfamiliar faces started moving into the neighbourhood, particularly during the recession period of the mid-80s, people started to become more wary. Break-ins – usually accompanied by violence – was not uncommon, and homeowners had to be more vigilant.

 

Gates were kept locked, and the front door, firmly closed. To prevent break-ins through the roof, contractors were hired to place timber planks over the beams.

 

Home burglary alarm systems – both the professionally installed versions and the DIY ones – were also put it. Hell, the folks even went out on Rukun Tetangga patrols.

 

The long and short of it is this: people took precautions to ensure that their homes were protected. They were responsible for their family’s safety.

 

Fast forward to this decade, and public perception of the crime rate had become so negative that the government was forced to take action by ordering more police patrols, and redesignating staff so that there was greater police presence on the streets.

 

They took these measures because they are responsible for our safety.

 

 

Likewise, when Sabah joined up to form Malaysia, there were certain things the federal government became responsible for, including guarding our now common borders.

 

And this it has plainly failed to do, as evidenced by the armed intruders from Sulu who not only managed to slip into Sabah undetected, but continued to camp out at Kampung Tanduo in Lahad Datu for three weeks before our authorities took firm action.

 

How could this have been allowed to happen? The answer being fed to an over-compliant media eager for any scrap of information is that the area is impossible to patrol due to its size.

 

Frankly, Sabahans will tell you that for too long the powers that be turned a blind eye against the daily incursions from our neighbours.

 

The authorities have also pointed to the “historical links” between Sabah and Sulu, adding that the movement of people between the two areas have been going on for years.

 

Sure, there may be historical links between the parties but that doesn’t mean we should not monitor and even regulate their comings and goings.

 

Historically, Singapore and Malaysia can boast even closer ties, but once the countries separated, Singapore at least ensures its borders are very well policed. No matter how regular a visitor you are (or perhaps you even work there), you don’t ever get a free pass.

 

And as for trying to cross the Johor Straits surreptitiously… let’s just say trespassers are severely dealt with.

 

 

No doubt Singapore being small has an easier time patrolling its borders. Perhaps the over 3,000km long US-Mexican border would be a better comparison.

 

Let’s see: there’s fencing that stretches for over 700km, with 20,000 border patrol agents, not to mention vigilante groups patrolling with shotguns and dogs.

 

Yes, thousands probably make it across every year, but they do so fearing for their lives as the chances of getting caught are high. And even once they cross the border, without documentation they continue to live in fear of being deported.

 

Contrast this with Sabah. Thanks to testimony from the RCI we now know that during Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s administration, illegals were freely offered citizenship.

 

Read more at: http://fz.com/content/raise-our-guard-we-must