KOTA KINABALU: Resorts on Sabah's east coast are seeing an increase in tourists with the increased security under the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
"It is estimated that 156,363 foreign tourists have entered the five Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) tourist destinations, based on records of arrivals from January to September," the Home Minister said at the launch of a halfway house for recently-released inmates in Tuaran, about 30km from here, on Monday (Oct 16).
The five destinations are Kudat, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu and Semporna.
ALSO READ: Tourists have confidence in Sabah
Saifuddin said from 2017 until this year, 40 kidnap-for-ransom cases involving the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group had been solved and the gang had been crippled.
He said the establishment of Esscom had increased the level of security in the Esszone, and the effect was seen in the encouraging increase in tourism.
"Sabah is safe and under control," he said, adding that efforts were under way to improve the safety and well-being of the people through increased border control operations.
Saifuddin said the authorities were also in the process of developing the Sabah Sea Surveillance System Project (Swasla) Phase 2 at the Sandakan Area Control Centre (ACC) and the Remote Sensor Site (RSS) at Malawali Banggi Kudat Island.
He also said a maritime base is being constructed in Semporna, as well as a forward operations base on Mabul Island.
ALSO READ: New Esscom chief Sanjos aims to prove Sabah's eastern shores secure
In addition, General Operations Forces (GOF) border control posts in the interior areas of Pagalungan, Nabawan and Kinabatangan were also on the cards.
"There is also the construction of the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex in Bantul, Pagalungan and the GOF 20th Battalion housing complex and administration building in Beluran," Saifuddin added.
So far this year, Esscom has carried out 6,473 inspections of people, vehicles and premises, with 107 arrests made for various offences involving undocumented migrants, drugs and smuggling.
ALSO READ: Drone unit to be set up in Esszone
On another matter, Saifuddin said the government had implemented a pilot initiative to transfer foreign children from Immigration depots to a special temporary settlement called Baitul Mahabbah.
"Children under the age of 10 under the management of the Immigration Department will be placed in Baitul Mahabbah until the documentation process by their respective countries' embassies is completed and they are ready to be sent home," he said, adding that one centre will be situated in Papar.
