Close down Esscom, after spending RM300 million

Sunday, 6 April 2014


DAP supremo calls for expensively-set up Sabah security command to be dismantled if it is powerless

KUALA LUMPUR: The Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) needs to be shut down if it is ineffective in preventing cross-border raids in Sabah, a senior opposition figure said. DAP leader Lim Kit Siang branded it a waste of money and too costly to maintain if it could do nothing to improve security in the Sabah east coast, a task that it was set up to do.

“The Esscom might as well close down if after the Malaysian taxpayers spending RM300 million on it, all it could do is to admit that it is ‘powerless’ following the abduction of two women from a resort off Semporna on Wednesday,” Lim said in a statement yesterday.

He was responding to Esscom corporate communications head Newmond Tibin who was quoted as saying on Friday that the command had no direct control over the 10 districts in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone or Esszone. He had reportedly said the districts have their own OCPD who answer to state police commissioner Hamza Taib while Esscom only coordinates agencies.

“This is the latest example of Malaysia’s shambolic governance, with one agency after another denying responsibility and passing-the-buck to another, making fools of the Malaysian people,” said Lim. 
 
"After the expenditure of RM300 million, Sabahans and Malaysians are told that Esscom is not responsible for their security. If so, why set up Esscom?

“It is clear that the RM300 million spent on Esscom has been a total waste of money as there can be no excuse to spend such a vast sum of money to erect a superstructure just to play the role of co-ordination of the 10 police districts,” he added.

The Esscom was created last year after Sulu fighters from the Philippines launched an incursion into Lahad Datu, Sabah which left nine members of the Malaysian security forces and at least 67 intruders dead.

Lim said unless Esscom can provide a satisfactory explanation over its apparent lack of role except for coordinating works, Parliament should move to have the command dissolved.

“Sabah and Malaysia do not need a RM300 million ‘white elephant’,” he said.

On Wednesday night, Chinese tourist Gao Huayun, 29, and Filipina Marcy Dayawan @ Mimi, 40, were seized by seven gunmen who raided Singamata Adventures and Reef Resort, off the Semporna coast and sped off by speed boat with them as hostages. They are believed to have been taken the two women to southern Philippines. No ransom demand has been made.

The latest kidnapping of a tourist comes some five months after another incident where a Taiwanese tourist was murdered and his wife kidnapped and taken to the southern Philippines for ransom. Both security breaches came after the creation of Esscom.

Borneo Insider

2 comments:


  1. 04.07.2014

    When one has the sentiment of hatred for wickedness, once one touches quiet, one discovers the desire in listening to upright experiences; one is open to freedom….give back North Borneo to the Sultanate of Sulu….


    http://4.bp.blogspot.com/.../QfdwN1gxVL8/s1600/esscom.jpeg


    @ Laon Laan: Sisiput siyang aapi sa kalupitang dati….Sabahans are Sultanate of Sulu & North Borneo - Philippines...The king and his siblings are from kingdom of North Borneo and Sulu; They are constituent of North Borneo and Sulu...not by delegates from Penang...

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