The Malaysian Insight

SHAFIE Apdal today called on Putrajaya to expedite the restructuring of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) in view of the kidnapping of 10 men by suspected Abu Sayyaf militants today.

The Sabah chief minister said any move to cut cost in the planned overhaul should not compromise Sabah’s security.

“What is important the right equipment and the number of security personnel can be increased.

“I don’t think places like Lumut (where the Royal Malaysian Navy based is stationed) is prone to piracy as the real threat towards the national security is right here in Sabah’s Tawau, Semporna and Lahad Datu,” he said in Kota Kinabalu today.

Shafie who is also the state security council chairman said he had given his views to Putrajaya on how to restructure ESSCom.

For instance, he said there is no need to base the armed forces in Lok Kawi in the west coast but they should instead be relocated to the east coast district

There is also no need for the ESScom headquarters on the front-line but enhance the number of security personnel, intelligence and weaponry.

“By doing so by itself, it can deter the kidnappers from across the border to carry out their activities here.”

On the security threat within Sabah, Shafie said he had numerous times told the authorities to get the local communities involved in activities to deal with the threats from areas like squatter colonies across the state.

“Still, if such threats do exist, I will ensure the necessary actions are taken.”

After six years of ESSCom, Sabahans still express fear towards squatter colonies and water villages as they view them as a hotbed for crime like drug abuse, gang fights and extortion.

Sabah’s Daily Express newspaper recently reported that an Abu Sayyaf member detained by the authorities in the Philippines last month had been living in Sabah for 20 years, before he was held alongside five others. – June 18, 2019.