Ainal Fattah, a community leader in Semporna, believes that surveillance techniques and cyber laws provide better alternatives to curfews in EssZone which covers 10 districts.
“Security in Semporna, and Lahad Datu as well, can be beefed up by making them smart and safe towns. When the technology is in place, the curfews can be lifted,” Ainal told the Kota Kinabalu-based daily, adding that it is the government’s responsibility to invest in relevant technology.
He was responding to a statement by Sabah police commissioner Ramli Din that the curfew in EssZone had been extended to Jan 30. The curfew is from 6pm to 6am.
Ainal hastened to add the security forces and the Eastern Sabah Security Command (EssCom) had done a good job so far in EssZone, but that they could perform even better if they had the latest technology to support their activities.
For example, he said, the authorities concerned could use surveillance cameras for intelligence gathering, crime prevention, or for protection of a process, person, group or object, or for investigation.
“The curfews imposed at present in EssZone was not about advantages. It serves its purpose but affects the lives of so many people, especially the fishermen,” Ainal was quoted as saying by Daily Express. He added that the livelihood of the fishermen had been severely affected.
Ainal said that Semporna had in particular been affected by the curfews as both local and foreign tourists are staying away from the district.
“Semporna is famous for its beautiful islands and its waters teeming with marine life and the gem industry.”
He remains confident tourists will return once they are convinced there’s security in the area and political stablity.
“The people in Semporna and other east coast towns have also come under attack on social media by some irresponsible people who are spreading malicious lies,” Ainal said, according to The Daily Express.
However, he acknowledged that it was crossborder crimes in the area that formed the basis for the lies spread about Semporna.
“Those spreading lies on social media should be prosecuted. Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) staff should be better trained so that they are equipped on the law pertaining to malicious content,” The Daily Express quoted him as saying.
He urged Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak, who is also a Sabahan, to visit Semporna for a first hand look at the security situation and to help improve Sabah’s image.