KOTA KINABALU: Credible intelligence sources and good relations between security forces and the community play important roles in keeping Sabah safe, says former inspector-general of police Tan Sri Musa Hassan.

       He said while the security situation in Sabah was under control, security forces should keep their intelligence sources close, and the locals closer.

       Musa, who was IGP from 2006 to 2010, said this when asked how he saw Sabah’s current security situation during a press conference on humanitarian issues here on Thursday (Feb 10).

       Musa is currently the Malaysia International Humanitarian Organisation (MHO) adviser.

       He said MHO was on a mission to create awareness of Sabah’s issues with undocumented people and to gather relevant data to present to the state government, in order to find a win-win solution to the matter.

       He said this had been a long-standing issue in the state, and it needed to be resolved on humanitarian grounds, without involving politics, but through collaboration with state agencies including the Immigration, police and Chief Minister’s Office.

       Musa said if the issue was not resolved, people who had been in Sabah for generations but were still undocumented could end up entangled in extremist activities.

       He said they could be manipulated into taking part in such security-threatening activities as they would be unable to access basic rights such as education and job opportunities.

       “There are many reasons why these people are undocumented. It could be that they live too far in rural areas or at sea, and have no access to registering marriages and births, or other forms of documentation,” he said.

       Musa explained that the issue produced many ripple effects on the state's socio-economic fabric.

       He urged the people to understand that getting the affected ones registered does not mean they are given citizenship, unless they meet the requirements of both state and federal laws.

       “MHO will provide data and assistance to identify these people, their backgrounds and whatever is needed (by) the authorities with the hope that these people would eventually be issued with some form of documents,” he said.

       It was also important that MHO volunteers reach as many of these communities as possible and make them understand the importance of getting registered, he added.

       “We will also go to the ground to tell the people of Sabah why we need to help the undocumented natives get their documents. This goes beyond race and religion,” he said.

       MHO secretary-general Datuk Hishamuddin Hashim said when people lack basic necessities, are left out as a community, and do not even have access to basic human rights and needs, they will feel angry and hateful.

       He said to ensure security and stability, it was important that the people have love for their home and a sense of belonging.

       That way, they will feel the need to protect it instead of harbouring vengeance or anger, he added.

       “We call upon all Sabahans, Malaysians and the government to look at this matter on a wider scope, for the sake of security and humanity,” Hishamuddin said.

       Also present at the press conference was Sabah MHO coordinator Jerry Jaimeh.