KOTA KINABALU, Oct 21 — The federal government is committed to fulfilling its promise to the people of Sabah, of implementing the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM), which is the security enforcement agency in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone).

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the federal government, however, would not do anything without the agreement of the people of Sabah.

“The state boss is the Chief Minister (Datuk Seri Musa Aman), who will consult me and we will jointly decide on what we need to do so that every inch of land in Sabah will be protected.

Najib hoped that Kiram’s (self-proclaimed “Sultan of Sulu” Jamalul Kiram III) followers would not continue their agenda (of claiming their rights on Sabah).

“We hope, for Kiram’s followers, enough is enough... don’t chase after something that will bring you destruction as the people of Sabah are not willing for Sabah to be taken over by you,” Najib said when opening the 28th Annual Conference of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), here, today.

Also present were Musa, who is also Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, and PBS president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

Earlier, in his speech, Pairin said the people of Sabah welcomed the establishment of Esscom and Esszone following the intrusion in Lahad Datu by Sulu militants.

He said the incident was an eye opener for the people who had for long voiced their concern over the influx of illegal immigrants into the state which threatened the economy, social environment and security of Sabahans.

“Therefore, the people of Sabah appreciate the action taken by the federal government against the armed group who called themselves the Army of the Sulu Sultan.”

He said the action showed the federal government was really committed to safeguarding national security and sovereignty.

Pairin also raised about the details of the establishment of Esscom and Esszone, which according to him, were not very clear to the people of Sabah.

“For example, they want detailed information on the Esszone locations, when it will operate and when additional security manpower will be recruited to meet the needs of the operations centres,” he said.

Pairan said PBS felt that these must be explained further so that it would be clear to the people that the government had taken effective measures, hence assuring them that security in Sabah was under control.

He said the people in the state also wanted to know the extent of Sabahans’ involvement in terms of manpower deployed to the Esszone.

“We hope that consideration be given to recruiting Sabahans to be among the armed forces and police personnel (for the Esszone) and with regard to appointments and promotions in the armed forces and police.”

Pairin said Esscom was not only important for maintaining security in Sabah but also for economic impact, and hoped the federal government would provide details on this impact as a result of the setting up of Esscom.  

The establishment of Esscom was announced by Najib on March 7 after his first visit to Lahad Datu following the intrusion incident in February.e

Esscom which is headed by its director-general Datuk Mohammad Mentek, officially began operating on April 1.

Esszone, the area under the purview of Esscom, involves 10 districts, namely Kudat, Kota Marudu, Pitas, Beluran, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau, covering 1,400 kilometres of shoreline. — Bernama