KOTA KINABALU: The Eastern Security Sabah Command (Esscom) hopes a courtesy visit by a delegation from South Korea will lead to lifting a travel advisory for its citizens to the state’s east coast.
Esscom Commander Deputy Comm Datuk Victor Sanjos expressed this optimism after a courtesy visit by South Korea’s Ambassador to Malaysia Yeo Seung Bae, and his group to the agency’s office in the east coast Lahad Datu district on Tuesday (Dec 17).
DCP Sanjos thanked the envoy and his delegation for coming in person to learn of the latest status in the Eastern Sabah Safe Zone (Esszone).
He hoped the visit would further strengthen relations between both countries.
“Hopefully, after this visit, the statistics will show a significant influx of tourists from the Republic of Korea,” he said.
South Korea has a standing travel advisory issued since 2015 for its citizens to cancel or postpone unnecessary travel to the eastern part of Sabah due to kidnapping incidents the year before.
Earlier, Yeo and his delegation were briefed on the security situation as well as the welfare of the community, which has improved since the Esszone and Esscom were established more than 11 years ago.
The Ambassador expressed his appreciation and gratitude to Esscom for its efforts in safeguarding the safety of visitors, particularly from South Korea, who travelled to the Esszone.
Yeo also said the visit to Lahad Datu was vital in learning the level of security in the Esszone.
He said this was so they could obtain accurate information to deliver to their citizens, thereby increasing the number of tourists from the Republic who come to Malaysia in general and especially to Sabah.
Also present were Esscom chief executive officer Datuk Dr Jamaluddin Mohd Ali; Esscom Deputy Commander Brigadier-General Mohamad Ismail Kamarudin as well as other senior officers of the agency.
