Commentary: They have no fear, much less respect

Excerpt from commentary in the Borneo Post (Apr 20): They have no fear, much less respect

.....A few days after the latest kidnapping off Sabah I heard a very interesting remark made by a radio commentator.

“The Abu Sayyaf is just a bandit group hiding under the name of a great religion and the struggle for independence of their claimed homeland. They treat Sabah like an ATM machine.”

I find the last sentence most intriguing and really on the mark. There has been at least ten kidnappings since 2000 when they netted 21 prisoners. I understand at least a few of the bandits were involved in all the cases. The resorts of Sabah are indeed like an ATM machine to this villainous group – when they need some money they would just sail over to collect some. They have done so successfully at least ten times in the twelve years. Such is lack of fear of the Malaysian forces of deterrence.

There was an interesting and somewhat amusing story that circulated after the 2000 kidnapping in Sipadan. Apparently after the news of their incursion into Sabah and coming away with their prize the leader of the Abu Sayyaf was approached by some of his cousins. Well, in a small place everyone is a cousin, especially when one has come into money.  With a bit of journalistic license I would say it went like this.

“Hi coz, I understand you came into a bit of money from your expedition in Sabah. How about sharing some with your kapatid (relative)?”

“Sorry, no can do but you are free to use the power boats we just bought to do your own thing.”

Apparently someone paid the ransom for the kidnapped Malaysians though our government denied any involvement in the transaction.  It was rumoured that the kidnappers bought a couple fast boats with the proceeds.

The cousins took his word for it and used the boats to attack another island. As luck would have it there was a big storm the week before and the resort suffered some damage. It was closed a while. So with the pirates cousins struck there was no a single tourist. They took off with a few of the resort staff and soon realized that they were of no value. The men were released a few weeks later.

It is said that there are two reasons why those with criminal bend think twice about committing their acts, namely, respect for the law and fear of apprehension and punishment.

There is a prominent Tan Sri who likes to give pious advice that we should educate people to respect the law. Our country is purported to be guided by the teachings of all the great religions and the Abu Sayyaf claims to be Muslim. Well, so much for divine guidance. That leaves only the fear of apprehension and punishment. However, from all the depressing news we have so far it appears that villains don’t have too much fear from this deterrence.

Such is the brazenness of these criminals that they appear to thumb up their noses, stick out their tongues, blow raspberry at our police force and authorities. In the case of incidents off Sabah they are shaking their fists in open defiance. In spite of this effrontery there does not seem to be much effective response from our authorities and law enforcement agencies. If this were a football match the score would have been: villains and pirates -10; Malaysia – 0.

The PM once said that the fight against crime is a war. Well, let’s hope that we are bringing out our “A” team and our “A” game to the battle. Because as of this moment the baddies don’t have fear let alone respect of our laws.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/04/20/they-have-no-fear-much-less-respect/#ixzz2zNCofxgV