The Malaysian Insight

SABAH will fully support an overhaul of Esscom if it means increased security in the state’s east coast, said Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal today.

Shafie, who is also state security council chairman, was responding to Putrajaya’s reported plans to boost Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) operations while introducing cost-cutting measures.

Sources said the federal government initially wanted to scrap Esscom, but reversed course following Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador’s recommendation.

“We welcome any suggestion to improve Esscom, including cost-reduction measures, but most importantly, we want the effectiveness of Esscom to be improved,” Shafie told reporters after chairing a Parti Warisan Sabah supreme council meeting in Kota Kinabalu.

“For the improvements to be carried out, the state government will give its cooperation to any new structure to be decided by Putrajaya later.

“We will give our full support and whatever is necessary. Sabah’s security is important.”

Putrajaya is expected to keep Esscom going despite concerns about its effectiveness, the burgeoning cost of personnel logistics and lack of clarity on the chain of command.

The integrated command, comprising police, the armed forces and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, was established to boost security in 1,400km of Sabah’s east coast, from Kudat to Tawau, after the bloody 2013 Lahad Datu incursion. It also functions to stop kidnappings and piracy in the region.

On another matter, Warisan president Shafie has endorsed the party’s office-bearers.

He announced minor changes to the supreme council, including the appointments of Dr Yusof Yacob as information chief, replacing Jake Nointin, and Siti Aminah Jabarkhan as Women’s wing chief.

Loretto Padua Jr retained the post of secretary-general, Terrence Siambun (treasurer) and Azis Jamman (Youth chief).

Shafie said Warisan will issue more than 200,000 new membership cards and get clearance from the Registrar of Societies to set up more branches after the Raya holiday.

“We have more than 200,000 members at all 26 Warisan divisions at present. There is a long list of membership applications at branches statewide.

“So far, only some 300 branches are registered, and we are waiting to get the green light from RoS.”

He added that the appointment of a non-Sabahan DAP member as an assemblyman in the state was due to the allocation given to the Pakatan Harapan component.

DAP had requested for Penang-born Loh Ee Eng to be nominated as a Sabah assemblyman following its victory in the Sandakan by-election on March 11.

“This is based on the party’s request. The request was made by them, and not any individual,” said Shafie.

“A DAP member could have lived in Sabah for a long time, but is still considered a non-Sabahan. But, he is still a party member.”

Former state PKR executive secretary A. Rashid Yusof recently questioned the Warisan-led state government’s decision to appoint Loh as a rep. – June 2, 2019.