LAHAD DATU: The former commander of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) Datuk Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid yesterday expressed his appreciation to ESSCom personnel and the community in tackling cross-border crimes during his tenure.
He said they faced numerous challenges and trials together during the one year, six months and 26 days he headed ESSCom.
“Addressing threats than could jeopardise national peace and order is a major challenge … the ordeal of often being criticised and questioned over its relevance and effectiveness due to kidnap cases was also a huge blow.
“But during my tenure as head of ESSCom, 843 operations including Ops Gasak were conducted to nab 5,704 illegals and 1,057 smuggling cases were thwarted with a seizure of RM1.09 million recorded,” he said.
He said this when met after a parade in his honour here yesterday.
Wan Abdul Bari was succeeded by Datuk Hazani Ghazali, whom prior to this was Bukit Aman’s Internal Security and Public Order Department (KDNKA) Special Action Unit (UTK) commander.
In addition, Wan Abdul Bari said six criminals out of 23 people on the national wanted list were also shot dead while two were nabbed and three others surrendered from bilateral co-operation and information sharing with the national police of the Philippines (PNP). — Bernama