Esscom must come under Musa

There are too many loopholes in Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s latest suggestion to rotate ‘power’ in Esscom.

KOTA KINABALU: Home Ministry’s latest plan to rotate the post of director-general of Esscom between the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and the Malaysian Armed Forces has raised questions, said Bingkor assemblyman Jeffrey Kitingan.

Dismissing the suggestion as not practical, he said the command of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) should be under Chief Minister Musa Aman.

“Esscom must come under the Chief Minister (Musa) as chairman of state security.

“That way, (Mohammed) Mentek’s role as Esscom director-general would be much clearer,” said Kitingan.

He said there are too many loopholes in Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s latest suggestion to rotate ‘power’ in Esscom.

“How is the rotation going to be decided? What are the specifics?

“If the command and responsibilities of Esscom is going to be rotated between the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), then what is Mentek’s role?

“These questions need to be answered,” said Kitingan

He said Esscom under Musa could see PDRM concentrating on internal security.

“Perhaps the ATM, together with the Immigration Department and specially trained border scouts or coast guards operating under Esscom can help strengthen the border.

“Esscom should just focus on border security,” said Kitingan.

Zahid had said yesterday that the ministry was planning to rotate its command position between the PDRM and ATM, with the baton being passed “every two or few years”.

He said this was to prevent the overlap of authority and asset deployment procured by the PDRM, ATM and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM).

The suggestion is currently being studied by the National Security Council and will be presented to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak for a final decision.

FMT Borneo Plus