More security bases in east coast Sabah

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) will open six new bases in the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (ESSZONE) to tighten coastal security in the area, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Ahmad Maslan.

He said MMEA would also beef up asset strength for the ESSZONE by adding five ships and five patrol boats.

MMEA currently has 52 floating assets operating to guard the coast of eastern Sabah.

The six bases will be opened in Kudat, Felda Sahabat, Kunak, Indera Sabah, Beluran and Jambongan.

“The move is to further tighten security in ESSZONE and also complement other security agencies,” he told a press conference after delivering the keynote address at the Asian Coast Guard Conference here today.

He added that the government had also allocated RM5.09 million for MMEA to buy gear like bullet-proof vests, helmets and Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR) equipment, firearms and ammunition for its ESSZONE operations, which would be delivered to the agency at the latest by April 15.

On manpower, Ahmad said MMEA’s staff strength in the ESSZONE would be at around 400 officers and men.

Meanwhile, he said the government also planned to streamline the service scheme of MMEA as it had done for the police and the armed forces.

“I have discussed this with the Prime Minister [Najib Tun Razak] and it will be considered,” he said.

In TAWAU, Minister in the Sabah Chief Minister’s Department Nasir Tun Sakaran has backed a proposal for the inclusion of the Semporna in the ESSCOM.

Nasir, who is also Senallang assemblyman, said among the reasons why Semporna should be included was its close proximity to a neighbouring country.

“We laud the creation of ESSCOM as announced by the prime minister in Lahad Datu.

“But we also want Semporna to be included in ESSCOM. Like the Lahad Datu district, Semporna is also close to the neighbouring country. So, security strength must be there too,” he said.

Nasir was commenting on a suggestion by Rural and Regional Development Minister and Semporna MP, Mohd Shafie Apdal, to take the matter to the Cabinet as Semporna was not listed among the five districts in ESSCOM.

Based on history, said Nasir, Semporna was the target of pirates or “mundu” in the local language, and the kidnapping incident on Sipadan Island by armed terrorists from a neighbouring country in 2001, also targeted the district. -FMT