KUCHING: Eastern Field Command (EFC) commander Lt Gen Datuk Mohd Zaki Mokhtar is confident that the security in Sabah and Sarawak will be enhanced under the leadership of Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
Hishammuddin, who is Defence Minister, was recently appointed as Minister with Special Functions in the Prime Minister’s Department, whereby one of his tasks is assisting the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak monitor Sabah’s security and the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom).
“The Esscom and Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) were formed following the intrusion at Lahad Datu in 2013.
“As such, Hishammuddin who was also fully involved in the effort to safeguard the state and dealing with the intrusion at that time.
“Therefore, his appointment as the Minister of Special Functions in the Prime Minister’s Department especially in dealing with security in Sabah and Sarawak is relevant as he understands the situation in Sabah during the incident,” Mohd Zaki told reporters after the handing over of the Jiwa Murni Project in conjunction with Pacific Partnership 2017 at SK Sungai Pinang near here last Friday.
He is convinced that the minister would streamline and strengthen the security and cooperation in ESSCom.
“I am also confident that he will accommodate any requests and needs for us to enhance the security in East Coast of Sabah and other places,” he added.
Hishammuddin’s appointment as the Minister of Special Functions allows him to execute his duty apart from his responsibilities as the Defence Minister. His post is to assist the Prime Minister by working closely with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.
Ahmad Zahid and Musa jointly chair the ESSZone Advisory Board while the ESSZone monitoring committee is chaired by the prime minster himself.