New Esscom chief Sanjos meeting senior officers in Lahad Datu.
KOTA KINABALU: Eastern Sabah Security Command's (Esscom) newly-appointed commander Deputy Comm Victor Sanjos has ordered border and sea patrols stepped up to boost public and tourist confidence in the area.
DCP Sanjos, who was appointed earlier this month, hopes the enhanced security measures would help the effort to get other countries to lift travel warnings against eastern Sabah waters.
The monitoring and patrolling operations will be intensified in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (EssZone), especially in the known routes used by kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) groups.
"The integrated operation will involve air patrols using fighter planes and several helicopters stationed in the EssZone," he said after chairing a meeting with Esscom officers in Lahad Datu on Wednesday (June 28).
DCP Sanjos said the enhanced monitoring was aimed at preventing members of the KFR groups linked to the militant Abu Sayyaf Group from sneaking into Sabah waters.
"When I was appointed commander of Esscom, I wanted to see the EssZone community, especially the foreign tourists who come to the east coast, to feel confident about the level of security while they are here," he said.
DCP Sanjos said that although the overall situation in the Esszone was well under control, it was still important for security forces to remain alert and be visible at strategic locations to thwart attempts by outside elements to challenge the country's sovereignty.
DCP Sanjos said although Esscom had successfully stopped kidnapping incidents in eastern Sabah waters over the past few years, some countries including Japan and South Korea still had concerns about security in the area.
He said Esscom would take proactive measures to clear up lingering doubts over security on the east coast.
He also called on the maritime community to work together in fighting cross-border crime, including the entry of undocumented immigrants.
The meeting was also attended by Esscom deputy commander Brig Gen Johari Ismail, Land Operations chief of staff Senior Asst Comm Datuk M Chandra, Sea Operations chief of staff (M) Che Engku Suhaimi Che Engku Daik, and Special and Technical Investigation chief of staff Senior Asst Comm Pajeri Mohd Ali, among others.
