KUDAT: Security on Pulau Banggi, particularly in Kampung Dogoton, remains stable and under control, thanks to continuous 24-hour patrols by the country’s security forces in the island’s waters and on land.
Kampung Dogoton village chief Dahim Saludin said the constant presence of security personnel on standby gave residents the confidence to go about their daily lives with greater peace of mind.
“From a security standpoint, there have been no problems so far. The security personnel also conduct 24-hour patrols here,” he told Bernama during a recent visit to the island by various government agencies.
The visit was also attended by representatives of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) and the Information Department of Malaysia (JAPEN).
However, Dahim expressed hope that the round-the-clock security measures would be accompanied by improvements to basic amenities, as the village still lacked a health clinic and residents depended entirely on well water.
Dahim said electricity supply was also a major concern, as the existing facilities provided power for only about six hours a day, from 6 am to noon.
Sharing a similar view, Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Dogoton headmaster Asiong Asung said the island was peaceful, with “zero incidents” recorded throughout his eight years of service.
On logistical challenges, Asiong said teachers had to take turns travelling to and from the island every seven weeks due to the limited ferry schedule.
He also expressed hope that the proposed development of better school infrastructure could be realised under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) to provide a more conducive learning environment for rural students.
He said the school had received donations of furniture and learning equipment, including chairs, tables, whiteboards and screens, with support from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Meanwhile, local trader Sedilman Amat said the limited ferry service forced residents to spend up to three nights on the mainland when urgent matters or medical appointments could not be attended to as scheduled.
“Alhamdulillah, security here has been good so far, with no major problems. However, I hope ferry services to the island can be improved to make it easier for residents to seek medical treatment and attend to important matters on the mainland,” he said.
Sedilman appealed for the reinstatement of two daily ferry trips in each direction to support the local community’s daily travel needs.
The visit by government agencies to Pulau Banggi aimed to assess local development gaps first-hand, particularly in security, utilities, education and ferry transport services.
Pulau Banggi, located about 70 kilometres from mainland Kudat and covering an area of 621 square kilometres, falls within the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (ESSZone) due to its proximity to international maritime routes and the Philippine maritime boundary, which lies just 53 kilometres from the island.
In May, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim visited Pos Dogoton, a forward military post on the island, demonstrating the government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s border defences.