Kota Kinabalu: Luyang Assemblyman Samuel Wong reminded foreign nationals in the state to respect local laws and do not take Sabah’s hospitality for granted.
“Respect local laws and do not take Sabah’s hospitality for granted. Sabah is no place for such activities. Enforcement must continue to be carried out with the highest priority,” he stressed.
Samuel was reacting to a recent dismantling of a sophisticated Chinese scam syndicate in Tawau,
“Sabah is intensifying its resolve to prevent the state from becoming a haven for international criminal operations,” he said.
Samuel also issued a strong call for immediate and robust preventive measures, emphasising the need to fortify Sabah’s defenses against transnational crime.
He lauded the swift and decisive action by enforcement authorities, which led to the arrest of 80 individuals at a Tawau resort.
“This operation reflects the capability and unwavering commitment of our security agencies in confronting increasingly intricate cross-border criminal networks,” he stated.
“At a time when such syndicates are becoming more organised and transnational, this operation sends an unequivocal message: Sabah will not tolerate illegal activities that threaten our peace and security.”
While commending the bust, Samuel also highlighted critical gaps exposed by the case, particularly concerning immigration monitoring and inter-agency coordination.
He stressed that Sabah must evolve beyond reactive enforcement, establishing a proactive system capable of identifying and neutralizing criminal groups before they can establish a foothold in the state.
“The focus now must be on building a more robust system, one that not only responds effectively but fundamentally prevents such groups from ever setting up operations here,” he asserted.
“We do not want Sabah to become a hub for illegal and inhumane activities such as scams. We must protect our beautiful home and uphold the dignity of our people.”
