Kota Kinabalu open to enemy attack
February 2, 2011 A surreptitious decision to park two offensive attack submarines in Kota Kinabalu has scared its citizens.
KOTA KINABALU: The federal government’s clandestine move to turn Kota Kinabalu into a naval city has angered its citizens who fear for their safety.
According to several local inhabitants here, there was “no notice of such a decision and no public feedback was sought”.
The Sapangar Bay Naval Base, just north of Kota Kinabalu, is said to house Malaysia’s two offensive attack submarines that can lay sea mines and fire missiles besides sinking ships with torpedoes.
Jesselton, the former name for Kota Kinabalu, was totally destroyed by bombs during the Second World War except for its damaged clock tower and two other buildings.
Many of the city’s inhabitants and historians are concerned that the secretive decison to stack such weapons would endanger the community.
Said Amran, a lecturer with a tertiary college, here, said: “The positioning of the submarines just south across from Cam Ranh Bay Naval Base in Vietnam and the Spratly Islands South China Sea lane choke point may expose Kota Kinabalu to military strikes in the event hostilities break out (against territories) which Malaysia is also claiming.
“Also, Vietnam has reportedly ordered more than six submarines from Russia… it is cause for concern.”
Vulnerable to attack
Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, Malaysia’s longest-serving Defence Minister, was the architect of many of the procurement of military hardwares.
In addition to the Kota Kinabalu naval base, Malaysia has a lagoon-sheltered base and airfield on one of the bigger islands.
Yusof, a retired serviceman upset with the move, said any enemy would seek to first destroy the base.
“Any enemy would want to put out of action any mine-laying and missile-launching vessels by destroying their bases and supporting facilities including food and water supply sources.
“We cannot assume that such a situation will not arise…” he said.
Underscoring his concern is the fact that Malaysia is among six countries staking a claim on the Spratly Islands.
Other countries staking their claim on the oil- and gas-rich Spratly Islands are China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei.
All except Brunei have a military presence among the 45 islands.
The basis of Malaysia’s stake on the Spratlys is its close proximity to Sabah.
Harap kerajaan akan mendapatkan pendapat daripada rakyat sebelum meletakkan submarin ini di KK.
BalasPadamsebaiknya kerajaan kita kena labih berhati hati
BalasPadamharap kerajaan melakukan apa yang terbaik berhubung dengan pekara ini.
BalasPadamdemi keselamatan tidak ada masalah bagi kita. Tapi jangan pula ia kan menjehanamkan rakyat pula nanti.
BalasPadamIf such views are taken into account by all states, means that Malaysia does not require the defense for our national security. then Malaysia will always be in danger..
BalasPadamdalam hal ini, pertimbangan pro dan con perlu diambil kira. bagaiman jika berlaku apa2 kepada Sabah dan bantuan peralatan atau ketenteraan lambat sampai ke Sabah? malah biasanya penyerang akan menyerang yang lemah dahulu bukannya kubu yang telah dikenalpasti mempunyai pertahanan yang kuat. jika Sabah menolak, bagaimana dengan negeri2 lain? disebabkan sikap suka menolak, akhirnya negara tidak mempunyai pertahanan untuk mempertahankan negara.
BalasPadam