ESSCom to be restructured

SANDAKAN, May 6 — The Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) will be restructured to further enhance security on the east coast of Sabah, Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu said.

He said the National Security Council (MKN) was in the midst of discussing the matter, including efforts to acquire additional equipment to improve the capability of the security forces under ESSCom.

“The MKN is working with the state government to see the task distributions.

“The Ministry of Defence has acquired an additional allocation of more than RM200 million and it will be distributed to enhance Esscom’s task of maintaining security,” he told reporters after his ceramah in the campaign for DAP candidate Vivian Wong Shir Yee for the Sandakan by-election here last night.

Mohamad, who is also Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president said the implementation of the curfew in the east coast of Sabah would also be reviewed to ascertain whether it is still necessary as the number of kidnapping for ransom cases in eastern Sabah had been on the decline over the past three years.

“We know that more and more tourists, especially from China, are visiting east coast areas of Sabah, such as Sandakan, Tawau and Semporna. This shows that they are confident with the improved level of security in those areas,” he added. — Bernama

Bernama 

6 May 2019

No Information Leak By Insiders In ESSCom

KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim denied any leak of information by 'insiders' in the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) on security operations in Sabah waters.

However, he did not rule out the possibility of the information being shared by illegal immigrants having family ties with terrorists who attacked the east coast of Sabah.

"There is no leakage of information through insiders from ESSCom, " he said when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2017 at the Dewan Rakyat here Wednesday.

The issue was raised by Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin (BN-Ranau) when debating the bill.

Shahidan, who is also Arau Member of Parliament, described as unreasonable a proposal by Wong TienFatt@Wong Nyuk Foh (DAP-Sandakan) for the government to disband ESSCom as it had failed to protect the waters off Sabah.

"ESSCom's responsibility is to ensure that the waters in Sabah is safe. Its establishment is to prevent intrusions in the eastern coast of Sabah following the incident in Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu," he added.

- Bernama