Security stepped up to ensure smooth Sabah polls - Gen Affendi

The Armed Forces have enhanced security in Sabah to ensure the smooth conduct of the state election, following reports that foreign elements might try to disrupt the polls, said Chief of Defence Force Gen Tan Sri Affendi Buang.

He said the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) were prepared to deal with any situation and threats against the country’s well-being and sovereignty.

“Maritime and land border controls not only in Sabah but also throughout the country will continue to be strengthened through Op Benteng by the National Task Force (NTF) together with MAF, in an integrated manner with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and other enforcement and security agencies.

“The involvement and cooperation of personnel and assets from all security and enforcement agencies have been activated in an organised manner, especially in the aspects of controls, security and well-being of Sabah to ensure a smooth state election process,” he said in a statement today.

The statement came after police said they had received intelligence that certain elements from a neighbouring country were planning to enter Sabah in a big way to create trouble during polling on Saturday.

Affendi urged the local communities to be the eyes and ears of the government because they have a joint responsibility to protect the country’s sovereignty.

“The local communities in Sabah should cooperate by providing information on intrusion by migrants and cross-border criminal activities to the NTF Operations Centre hotline at 011-6251 1223,” he added.

Bernama today reported Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador as saying police were not ruling out the possibility that several individuals from a neighbouring country holding dual citizenship might attempt to enter Sabah to vote and create trouble.

Two days ago, Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali said police had received information that elements from a neighbouring country were planning to enter Sabah and disrupt the polls on Saturday.

-- BERNAMA