SABAH CONTINUES to beef up its security due to persistent threats posed by the pro-ISIS group Abu Sayyaf in southern Philippines. Military forces have been called to back up the police in securing Sabah from militants.
Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador, the Inspector-General of Police, said threats of kidnappings and cross-border raids by the Abu Sayyaf remain high, adding, attacks could happen any day at any time.
He said the threats remain despite the establishment of Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) and martial law in several areas in the state. “As such, Esscom will be restructured on the placement of security forces involving the Malaysian Armed Forces, police as well as the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency. Among others, the restructuring will involve the structure of security in the areas and the change of security posts which have been taken over by police and MAF would be updated,” he told Bernama.
Abdul Hamid said the restructuring process is being carried out by the National Security Council (NSC) to further strengthen Esscom. “The threats to the islands of Sabah were there every day. This is because Sabah is very near to the Philippines and it only takes 15 minutes by speedboat to reach Philippines waters,” he said, noting that it is easy for the Abu Sayyaf to intrude into Malaysian waters.
He said the Philippine government earlier created an overall security control in Sulu (Archipelago) islands near Kunak, as well Lahad Datu in Sabah, and the new measure has eased our concerns,” Abdul Hamid said, but nonetheless, Esscom needed to be on the alert on any threats when conducting operation.
Defense Minister Mohamad Sabu previously announced that Esscom would be restructured to improve security on the eastern coast of the state and that the NSC is discussing the decision, including efforts to acquire additional equipment to boost security teams under Esscom. (Bernama and The Zamboanga Post)
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