'Thanks' to the boat people

The year of 1989 was a momentous moment in our country’s history as we were declared to be fully free from the communist threat. After twenty first years of experiencing the emergency period, both Malayan communist party (PKM) and Malaysian government finally agreed to sign a peace accord at Hatyai. As a result, the country could focus entirely on the social economic development and the next of that year, the 2020 vision has been mooted by the fourth prime minister, Dr Mahathir (Tun) in order to attain the status of a developed nation. 

Since then, Malaysia has enjoyed the peaceful environment and harmonic relationship between all of its citizens regardless their different race or religion. Even a few political tensions could not be avoided, but they were still under control since Internal Security Act (ISA), coupled with sedition act have played the prominent role to keep our internal safety and harmony. Moreover, the natural and peaceful foreign policy that practiced by our government has prevented us from involving in any regional crisis.

However, in this current decade, we have witnessed a few incidents that give the significant impact to our sovereignty. An excellent example was the Lahad Datu intrusion that still fresh in our mind. That incident has not only triggered, but perplexed all of us as how an armed battalion could already land in our territory.

How could they penetrate our boarder dramatically and how their main leaders could escape from this country easily? No matter how serious the government transforms the various agencies to be a unit, known as ESSCOM, but the series of kidnapping incidents by armed perpetrators has reflected our security condition. Even the minister of tourist has admitted sincerely that he has no longer feels safe to visit east Sabah. 

The second case was the disappear of flight MH370. That mysterious incident has not only prompted our society, but all over the world are interested to follow it. While the government did the best to find the aircraft, the military ability, especially the current radar condition made us to be worried.

Yesterday, we were shocked again by the exclusive report from special branch as they exposed that 80pc of the nation’s security personnel and law enforcement officers at Malaysian borders are corrupt. The border in the modern era is considered to be the main frontier of the country and those who are guarding it are the nation’s defender. Otherwise, the weapon, drug, even humans can be smuggled into our country. Moreover, the citizen’s interest like subsidiary goods also can be enjoyed by foreign citizens.

Thus, we have to thank to the boat people since their emergence has made us to open our eyes to see our border condition. While we demand the origin countries to be responsible for these immigrants, our weakness must be concerned too. In fact, pursuing the status of developed country that expected to be achieved in the next five years means nothing if our national security still vulnerable.