KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is committed to giving its full support and cooperation to the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) and other security forces, says Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
The Chief Minister said this is in an effort to thwart the intrusion by foreign elements and militants as well as threats by extremists, cross-border criminals and undocumented migrants especially in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone).
Hajiji added that the Home Ministry and Esscom in particular have been actively carrying out operations to secure the country’s safety and sovereignty from such threats.
“In line with the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development plan, I am fully supportive of the initiatives to improve the infrastructure, assets, human resource and basic needs of the security and defence forces as well as law enforcement agencies,” he said
“This is to ensure that interoperability and preparedness are at a high level,” Hajiji added on Thursday (July 25).
He said this during the Esszone joint-committee meeting which was co-chaired by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail at Menara Kinabalu here.
Also present were State Secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong, Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Ruji Ubi and Sabah Attorney-General Datuk Brenndon Keith Soh, among others.
Hajiji said the strategic partnership between Sabah and the Federal Government through the Home Ministry was necessary in order for the plan to develop the state’s economy could be implemented successfully.
The Chief Minister said the state government was firm on its support to ensure the safety of its maritime borders which covered cluters of islands, coastal and land areas as well as rivers especially under the Esszone was under control.
According to him, as part of the Brunei Indonesia Malaysia Philippines-East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), the Sabah east coast has the potential to be a new economic hub, as it was strategically located closest to the growth area.
In addition, with the establishment of Nusantara, Indonesia’s new capital, in East Kalimantan, he said, it was even more imperative for the state the capitalise on these developments.
“As such, the coordination between the state government and Home Ministry through all its agencies such as Esscom will always be improved to deal with security threats as well as cross border crimes,” Hajiji said.
He added that he hopes the ]meeting will spur further operations that will not only increase safety but also benefit the well-being of the people, adding it will subsequently improve confidence in the region.
