SANDAKAN, Aug 13 – Cooperation of departments and agencies through Khazanah Integrated Operations (OBK) has strengthened the efforts of the Sabah General Operations Force (GOF) to combat activities destroying the country’s natural treasures, especially in the state.
Sabah GOF commander SAC Mohd Abduh Ismail said the cooperation would enable information on illegal activities involving flora and fauna in the forest and marine life at sea to be channelled to the GOF for immediate action.
He said GOF had previously carried out Operation Khazanah alone, when it was launched in 2019 but found it less effective due to Sabah’s vast terrain.
“So, I decided to merge the efforts of Sabah GOF with other departments and agencies because they (other departments and agencies) understand better and have a lot of information which can be shared, including those related to forest and sea boundaries.
“At the same time, it gives us easy access to locations where illegal activities often occur,” he told reporters after launching the operation in Sepilok near here today.
According to Mohd Abduh, OBK also has the support of the Forestry Department, Wildlife Department, Sabah Parks, Sandakan Municipal Council and the World Wide Fund-Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia).
He also reminded officers and members of Sabah GOF to always ensure the safety of the department and agency personnel involved from any threats when implementing the OBK which has been carried out continuously since Aug 9.
Mohd Abduh said the effort to protect the state’s treasures was also extended to a community awareness programme through a roadshow being planned.
“I have asked for help from the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) in contributing ideas from Royal Malaysia Police on the roadshow.
“This includes providing awareness and information to the community, especially the hunting community as a livelihood, on the rules and laws in hunting so that our natural treasures will not go extinct,” he said.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency