Lahad Datu: Najib officially launches Esscom, Ops Daulat to end

LAHAD DATU: Ops Daulat will end in a few days time and its operations will continue under Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Najib said Ops Daulat will end in name, but police and armed forces will continue to take action until all intruders and their supporters are wiped out.

"No one inside or outside the country will be allowed to jeopardise our security, peace and safety of the country, " he said in Desa Kencana Felda Sahabat Lahad Datu Saturday afternoon at an Ops Daulat appreciation ceremony for security forces.

Najib also announced a special award called Pingat Kedaulatan Negara (National Sovereignty Medal) which will be given to all individuals who served in Ops Daulat.

Earlier on Saturday, Najib officially launched Esscom, which has four key strategic areas of operations.

"These focuses is to make sure that the livelihoods of the people in these areas are secure. We want people to be feel safe," he said after officially launching the Esscom headquarters at the Lahad Datu Marine Police headquarters here Friday.

The first key area of focus is intelligence gathering, which would ensure that any potential threats were identified and neutralised in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) that encompasses 10 districts from northern Kudat to south eastern Sabah. The second was on heightening and improving coastal surveillance on movements within the area.

He said the other two areas of focus was to increase the ability to intercept intruders or people coming into the sea area; and to strengthen the ability to capture intruders who managed to slip into the mainland.

Najib said that Sabah's east coast tourism had been marginally affected, but Sabah's investments remained undisturbed.

He said the government had put in place the Esscom and created positions for Esscom in one month after announcing it on Mar 6.

"The creation of 46 positions, including the director-general post for Esscom within 24 hours, is the fastest decision (by the Public Service Commission)," Najib said

He added that the positions also included the creation of two security forces posts with the rank of Mejar Jeneral and two for the police with the rank of Commissioner.

"Of the 48 positions, 36 have been filled and the remaining will be filled soon," he said, adding that RM200mil has been allocated for Esscom, with further allocations possible if insufficient.

Security is also being tightened up in the Felda Sahabat area, with the involvement of Felda's 100 auxiliary policemen and the creation of four askar Wartania (territorial army reserves) platoons.

As for houses damaged or destroyed during Ops Daulat, Najib said that the government will help to rebuild better homes for the locals, while houses will also be built for those without proper supporting documents.