ESSCom needs to enhance intelligence work to obtain latest information - Salleh

The Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) should further enhance and strengthen its intelligence work to obtain the latest information on the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone).

Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said this was vital to ensure the level of security in Sabah was constantly high, thereby preventing any untoward incidents.

"Intelligence work needs to be further improved so that we can obtain all the latest information on what is happening in our national waters," he told reporters after meeting with Sabah 1Malaysia Community (K1M) chairmen here today.

He was commenting on the abduction of four Malaysians by eight armed men in the waters off Ligitan, Semporna about 6.15 pm last Friday.

Salleh was confident that the parties concerned could conduct thorough investigations on the incident so that follow up action could be taken to solve the problems.

Asked if the ESSCom was still relevant following the abduction incident, he said since its inception ESSCom was always relevant in safeguarding security in the ESSZone waters.

"If we look in terms of earlier statistics, ESSCom managed to foil several kidnapping attempts. When kidnapping occurs, it does not mean ESSCom is no longer ineffective. But we should highlight this weakness to further strengthen ESSCom," he said.

Up to October last year, ESSCom managed to foil nine attempts of kidnap for ransom in ESSZone.

Meanwhile on his meeting with the Sabah K1M chairman, Salleh said it was aimed at providing information on the government's policies and current issues.

"I have to explain to them that we in Malaysia practise a parliamentary democracy system, and that ultimately the people will determine who should become the ruling party.

"We cannot adopt a democratic system that is not in line with the culture in Malaysia such as street protests or make 'people's declaration'...it is not a feature of the demoncratic system in Malaysia," he said.

Hence, Salleh wanted K1M to execute its role and responsiblities in helping the government deliver polices and provide information on current issues in their respective areas.

Earlier during the meeting, all the representatives of K1M chairman from 151 K1M in 25 districts in Sabah pledged their full support to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as the Prime Minister.