KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's security is under control with the state government urging security forces to be extra vigilant with the ongoing Philippines presidential elections.

       Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said that he had directed Sabah police to heighten surveillance in the run up to the presidential election of the neighbouring country that shares its southern sea borders with Sabah's east coast.

       He wanted the police to monitor the situation since the issue of Sabah claim would always be a hot topic used by the Philippines presidential candidates to gain support from their voters.

       "The heat from the Philippines presidential election (to be on May 9, 2022) needs to be monitored closely by our police, especially the Special Branch," he said after making an official visit to the police Kapayan headquarters here.

       Hajiji was briefed on the overall security in the state by the Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Idris Abdullah, along with senior officers.

       Among the issues raised during the meeting was for the reinstatement of the ban on the use of pump boats in Sabah that was already approved by the State Security Committee last year.

       The Chief Minister has asked police to prepare a paper on the matter to be presented during the State Security meeting this year because he said alternatives must be given in order for the ban to be executed.

       On the issue of Sabah being used as a transit for illicit drug trafficking, Hajiji hoped the police would continue to monitor the situation because the spillover of the illicit substances into the state would create major social issues.

       Hajiji, who was state Security Council chairman, also directed State Secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong to look immediately into the land application by the police to build a new base for the marine police in the city and for the General Operations Force (GOF) based in interior Nabawan.

       "The applications must be given priority because this involves security and the state’s sovereignty," he said.

       On the issue of firearms licenses, Hajiji agreed that the power to approve the license be given to the Sabah Commissioner of Police as practised in Sarawak.

       "I will bring up the matter to the Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister," he said at the briefing with State Federal Secretary Datuk Sarul Bahiyah Abu, State Internal Affairs and Research Secretary Datuk Awang Shaminan Sahari as well as senior Sabah police officers including Deputy CP, Datuk Jauteh Dikun.

       "I am glad to hear that we are in the good hands of the police,” he said.