TAWAU: A local non-governmental organisation lambasted Sabah DAP chairman Jimmy Wong today for allegedly belittling the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom).
Sabah Suluk Solidarity Council (MPSS) secretary Mohd Zaki Harry Susanto said Wong’s alleged remark that the kidnapping incident at Ocean King Restaurant in Sandakan was due to ESSCom officers’ complacency was uncalled for.
“Being a former policeman myself, I know that ESSCom’s officers are highly committed in their responsibilities.
“I have even observed ESSCom Commander Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun ESSCom and chief executive officer Ruji Ubi going to the ground to meet with residents in the ESSZone.
“There are some among the 140 ESSCom officers, not including the 30 public staff, who even left their spouses behind in the peninsula to serve in ESSCom.
“They serve in ESSCom willingly in order to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and security of the people in Sabah,” he said in a statement Friday.
He was commenting on Wong’s alleged statement in the news portal, Roketkini, last night, in regard to the allocation of more than RM600 million for ESSCom.
Wong who is also Kota Kinabalu member of parliament was further claimed to have stated that ESSCom also received bribes from foreign workers during the integrated operations it led.
Mohd Zaki issued a challenge to Wong to lodge a report to the police or Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission.
“ESSCom security forces worked day and night to make our waters secure and succeeded in foiling six abduction attempts off Semporna, Kunak and Lahad Datu prior to the incident at Ocean King, Sandakan.
“ESSCom has also definitely managed to remove some of the fear among the public about a possible second threat of intrusion by Sulu militants and other cross border crimes,” stressed Mohd Zaki. – BERNAMA