Federal Govt Never Neglected Sabah, Sarawak - Ahmad Zahid
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- The federal government has never neglected Sabah and Sarawak especially on security matters, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said the setting up of the Eastern Sabah Special Security Command (ESSCom) and the proposed construction of the latest technology border wall showed the government's concern on national security.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also carrying out the duties of deputy party president, said the government had set aside RM250 million as initial allocation to improve the assets of ESSCom.
"Who says that we don't care for Sabahans and Sarawakians. We have provided with the best of high technology (security facilities) at each entry point through the upgrading of the ICQ (Immigration, Customs and Quarantine complexes)," he said when simultaneously opening the general assembly of the UMNO Wanita, Youth and Puteri movements at the Dewan Merdeka, Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) tonight.
On March 7, 2013, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had announced the formation of ESSCOM (formerly known as Sabah Special Security Area) followed by the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) on March 27, 2013.
Subsequently, ESSCom was set up on April 1 the same year. After that, 'Ops Daulat', which was launched following the intrusion by a Sulu armed group in Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu in Sabah, was replaced with 'Operasi Sanggah' which was fully handled by ESSCom.
ESSCom acts as the security enforcer for ESSZone, which covers 10 districts in the East Coast of Sabah, in ensuring that the country's security and sovereignty are always safeguarded.
The ESSZone, stretching 1,733.7 kilometres, comprises Kudat, Kota Marudu, Pitas, Beluran, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau districts.
-- BERNAMA
