SEMPORNA: The security steps enforced by Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom), including the installation of Automatic Identification System (AIS) on all boats used by resort operators and tourism, are not intended to be troublesome and to burden them.
The regulation in fact is to make it easier for security teams to carry out their tasks more effectively, including monitoring and reacting faster in case of untoward incidents such as kidnapping and cases of tourist boats sinking while conducting water activities at sea.
ESSCom Operation Centre staff Chief Brigadier General Datuk Md Rahim Hj Mohamad said the security team had tolerated and compromised with tourism and boat operators, including giving ample time to prepare for the AIS installation.
He said there was no compromise for security. All resort operators need to abide by the directive issued by the security team to ensure their safety.
Rahim also said resort and boat operators needed to take security and prevention steps, including knowing the actions needed to be taken in case of an emergency so that immediate action could be taken by the security team to save tourists.
Speaking at a dialogue session with tourist and boat operators yesterday, Rahim said ESSCom was taking various initiatives to ensure the safety in the east coast of Sabah was at its level best and under control.
He said there was an increase of over 200 percent in tourist arrivals, especially from China, which showed tourists were getting confident with the security situation in Semporna.