Sabah’s east coast security under control: Esscom

KOTA KINABALU: Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) has given its assurance that security in Sabah’s east coast remains tight and under control. Despite travel advice issued by the UK government, Commander Datuk Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid said Esscom had not received any untoward incidents thus far, adding security forces had remained intact at strategic locations. “As far as Esscom is concerned, security at the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (Esszone) is under control. “There are no imminent threats that can jeopardise the state’s security and safety of the people,” he said when contacted. Bari said tourists were still visiting popular tourist spots, adding that they put their trust the security forces and were aware of the situation. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) yesterday issued a travel advise against all but essential travel to all islands off the coast of eastern Sabah from Kudat to Tawau, including (but not limited to) Lankayan, Mabul, Pom Pom, Kapalai, Litigan, Sipadan and Mataking. The advisory (www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/malaysia) also states “there is a high threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners.” The FCO has also raised the terror alert for Sabah’s east coast from general to high. Meanwhile, Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun advised people not to act hastily over such report, adding it was the British government’s prerogative to issue such notice. “They have done the same in the past and we have to manage this with wisdom and patience. “I do believe that Sabah (east coast) is safe with sea curfew in place and round-the-clock surveillance. “The fact that all the island resorts are packed with tourists is a clear indication of tourists’ confidence in security situation in the east coast of Sabah.”

Source: New Straits Times