ESSCOM denies issuing media statement on tsunami in Sabah

The Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) did not issue any media statement informing of the possibility of a tsunami occurring on the Sabah east coast, within the next 36 hours.

Its corporate communications head Newmond Tibin said ESSCom had also not issued any media statement on behalf of the Sabah branch of the Malaysian Meteorological Department (JMM) on the weather conditions in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone).

"Any official media statement by ESSCom will only be issued through the Corporate Communications Unit or the portal, ESSCom Times at the address www.esscom.gov.my," he said in a statement, here today.

Newmond said this when commenting on rumours in the social media that the report on the possibility of a tsunami occurring was purportedly received from ESSCom which obtained the information from the Sabah branch of the Malaysian Meteorological Department.

He urged the people, especially those living in ESSZone to be calm and not listen to rumours.

ESSZone covers 10 districts in eastern Sabah, namely Kudat, Kota Marudu, Pitas, Beluran, Kinabatangan, Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Tawau and Semporna.

ESSCom was established after the militant intrusion in Kg Tanduo here early last year and was entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating operations of various security forces, including the Police, Armed Forces and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency in ESSZone.