200 GOF personnel start duty at KKIA
Some 200 General Operations Force (GOF) personnel from Battalion 16 are stationed at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) including Terminal2 as an additional security control measure beginning yesterday. GOF Sabah Deputy Brigade Commander Superintendent Bachok Labaya
said the personnel are an addition to the existing security control although they will be in charge of the overall security. “There will be 80 personnel in each shift on 24—hour rotation duty,” he said, adding that the personnel ‘ will provide security for the whole KKIA, the terminal and the surrounding area,” he said. According to Bachok, this is the first time GOF personnel are stationed at an airport in the State after Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), and is a huge responsibility. “We will do our best to ensure security is well taken care of, which will give a positive impression to tourists,” he said, adding that the measure is a new approach to the GOF security service. “We will treat everyone that comes to this airport as guests and they will be given the best treatment since we do not want any problem to arise and the safety of the passengers and public will always be guaranteed,” he said. On the need for the additional security -control at both airports, Bachok said the initiative is needed nowadays especially in Sabah, which is known as one of the best tourism destinations in the world. “The initiative is necessary since tourist arrivals are increasing, therefore we need more security control for the safety of the public as well as the staff,” he said. Bachok denied that the additional security control is to counter a possible threat. We also plan to station our GOF personnel at all airports in the State” he said. 
