Amid growing questions about security in Sabah following a recent spate of abductions and deadly shootings, Malaysia’s Home Ministry has given its security forces the nod to shoot intruders on sight in the security zone.

But the order drew an immediate response from Prime Minister Najib Razak, who said this must come with a government-approved standard operating procedure (SOP) to prevent incidents that could hurt innocent bystanders.

Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the shoot-on-sight order is justified if it could stop intruders deemed “a national threat”.

His order followed the killing of a Malaysian marine police officer, while another was abducted by Filipino gunmen in a shoot-out with security forces on Mabul Island in eastern Sabah last Saturday night.

… Dr Oh Ei Sun, an analyst with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies said Malaysia needs more than a shooting order.