KUALA LUMPUR: The Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom), set up four years ago, remains relevant in ensuring peace and security in the country, said its former commander Datuk Abd Rashid Harun.
He said ESSCom’s preparedness in facing challenges had been translated by the security teams with their success in addressing incidence of kidnapping and intrusion in their area of operation.
“ESSCom is now more organised in its coordination of the three security teams, comprising the Malaysian Armed Forces, the Royal Malaysia Police and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.
“Previously, the security and defence agencies moved in silo, small, unorganised, but now they are like siblings under one roof, which is ESSCom,” he told Bernama in a special interview in conjunction with ESSCom’s fourth anniversary today.
The former Sabah police commissioner said security issues should be handled in a holistic manner and the task should not be burdened on the security forces alone.
“The Immigration Department, Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism, Education Department, the Malaysia Islamiah Dakwah Foundation and also the Malaysian Islamic Development Department should join hands and play their role.
“It is not fair to place security problems on the security and defence agencies alone. The cooperation should continue for the country’s sovereignty.
“Forget the doctrine, bureaucracy, standard operating procedure. All those are just to facilitate us when dealing with the society,” he added.
On cooperation from the public, Abd Rashid said many episodes on the success by the security forces in thwarting kidnap, as well as intrusion, were the result of information from local residents. He said information, if conveyed promptly to the security teams would enable swift action to be taken, hence minimising the chances of the irresponsible quarters from doing bad.
Abd Rashid said cooperation with the Philippine security forces also helped in building public confidence for ESSCom through dialogues, courtesy calls and meetings.
He said the Philippines was also concerned with issues on security in Sabah and international waters and hoped for a long-term solution to it.
ESSCom is the enforcement agent for the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (ESSZONE) and covers 10 districts along the more than 1,700-km stretch of the Sabah east coast.
It was established to safeguard the sovereignty and security of the state’s east coast following the intrusion by the terrorists.
ESSZONE covers the districts of Kudat, Kota Marudu, Pitas, Beluran, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau.
The establishment of ESSCom and ESSZone was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in March 2013 following the intrusion by Sulu terrorists in Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu, in February 2013, during which 10 members of the Malaysian security forces were killed. — Bernama