Curfew a right move, says ex-ESSCom DG

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LAHAD DATU: The government’s action in declaring a dusk-to-dawn curfew in six districts in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) is accurate as the security situation in ESSZone is currently under control.

Former Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) Director General, Datuk Mohamad Mentek said the government’s appropriate action should be supported by the people as since the curfew was declared on July 19, the situation in the ESSZone is under control.

Mohammad, in a statement, said the ambush by a group of armed men in Mabul Island, Semporna on July 12 should be an eye opener to all parties, especially the security forces, to improve their level of preparedness in facing the challenge.

“Since the declaration of the curfew, the security situation in the ESSZone has improved and the curfew proved the government’s determination and commitment to ensure the safety of the people in the state,” he said during the Hari Raya and ESSCom Farewell ceremony on Friday in honour of the former director general of EESCom.

Also present were ESSCom Commander DCP Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun, former ESSCom Defence Director Major General Datuk Masrani Paiman, former ESSCom Intelligence Director Major General Datuk Mohd Noor Osman and ESSCom Director of Public and Management Services Abdul Rahim Ishak.

The curfew covers an area from three nautical miles offshore, stretching a distance of 362 nautical miles from Sandakan, through Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Semporna to the Tawau jetty and encompassing 121,270 sq nautical miles.

ESSCom was established on April 1, 2013 following the intrusion incident at Kampung Tanduo and is responsible for coordinating the operations of the various security agencies and defence including Police, Armed Forces and APMM in the ESSZone.

Mohammad said on the whole, ESSCom has been successful in meeting its original target, which aims to curb the second wave of Sulu terrorist intrusion.

“There are no intrusion by the Sulu terrorists and we also managed to increase the number of assets and also in collaboration with the security agencies in ESSCom.

“And now ESSCom is facing a huge challenge to solve cross-border crimes such as kidnapping cases in which the criminals might be assisted by ‘insiders’,” he said, thanking the government for giving him chance to lead ESSCom.

He also hoped that ESSCom’s restructuring with the appointment of DCP Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun as commander, the implementation of the curfew, and collaboration from all parties would be able to curb cross-border crimes.