KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) fully supports the call for the revival of the Sarawak Rangers and Border Scouts to strengthen control over the state’s borders.
SUPP secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting pointed out yesterday, “Currently, the border control is weak because of our long boundary with Indonesia. As a result, it leads to many “jalan tikus” for people to come into Sarawak illegally”.
Ting, who is also Tourism, Arts and Culture Assistant Minister, added, “Of course, members of the Sarawak Rangers and Border Scouts must be Sarawakians. Our people know our land a lot better than anyone else.
“In fact, our Iban trackers were among the best in the region and many occasions, the British government relied on them during the Malayan Emergency from 1948 till 1960. We used to have Sarawak Rangers and Border Scouts but upon the formation of Malaysia, they were absorbed into the Royal Ranger Regiment, a new Malaysian Army, as defence was a federal matter.”
Ting pointed out that back then, the state leaders might think it was a good idea to unite the Sarawak Rangers with the Malaysian Army and trusted the federal government would look after our borders well.
“But after 56 years, our border security is still lacking and our borders are unsafe, especially in towns near the borders such as Serikin.
“Therefore, we need the Sarawak Rangers and Border Scouts more than ever to protect our vast boundary. Even if defence is a federal matter, it is not going to stop us from negotiating with the federal government to revive the Sarawak Rangers and Border Scouts. We love our home, Sarawak so we must do all we can to protect it,” said Ting.
