Sabah has called on the federal government to look into the need of taking offensive actions to combat robberies and kidnaps for ransom in Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone).

Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal said the time has come for Malaysia to stop taking a defensive attitude as these criminal activities had clearly affected the tourism sector as well as the security of the local people and and foreign workers who came to Malaysia to find a living.

"They (foreign workers) came to work in Malaysia and they also do not want to be kidnapped.

“It will not work if we keep playing defensive, I think its time for us to go on the offensive,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters at a membership form handover ceremony for new members to join Warisan in Kalabakan division in Tawau today.

Shafie also proposed government-to-government cooperation involving Malaysia with Indonesia and Philippines over the matter.

In this regard, he would be asking security forces to step up its operation in Sabah.

"I will be having a meeting with the security division on Monday and I want operations to be improved,” he said.

On Dec 5, four armed men in a speed boat attempted to rob a trawler, Magtrans II in the waters of Pegasus Reef in Kinabatangan and the suspects fired two shots randomly at the trawler which hit Magtran’s skipper on the left thigh.

Apart from that, a fishing boat owner also reported four of his workers comprising a skipper and three fishermen were missing from the same waters on the same day.

- Bernama