Strengthening security control vital for economic growth - Arthur
KOTA KINABALU, Feb 17 -- Security control, especially at the country’s borders, need to be strengthened to prevent any terrorist activity that affects the country’s economic growth, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economy) Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup.
He said that Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali's statement in a news portal recently, about terrorist groups that had sneaked into the interior of Sabah, was very worrying.
“The government will pay serious attention to border security issues in the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP). When it comes to economic growth, it certainly needs a conducive environment that is safe and secure.
“Economic progress and development can be stunted by acts of terrorism that can destroy infrastructure and affect the investment climate, causing lower productivity and increasing the unemployment rate among the community,” he said in a statement today.
Arthur, who is also Pensiangan MP, said that all parties should stop politicising security issues, instead supporting the government's efforts to curb the threat of terrorism, as only one incident of terrorism could affect investor confidence in the country’s economy.
“I also commend the actions of security personnel, especially the police and army, who are on duty around the clock to ensure the safety of the people, so that the sovereignty of the country remains protected, especially in Sabah,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
