ESSCom plans strategy to counter remnants of foreign abductors

LAHAD DATU - The East Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) will continue to draw up strategies to face remnants of the cross-border criminals although one of the leaders of the militant group Abu Sayyaf, who was linked to the abduction of two Malaysians in Sandakan, was killed recently.

ESSCom commander Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun said ESSCom took a serious view on the threat posed by remnants of the criminals who could jeopardise security in the East Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone).

"ESSCom will streamline and draw up various strategies to prevent intrusion by remnants of the cross-border criminals (from the southern region of the Philippines) into Sabah via the ESSZone waters using existing assets," he said.

Abdul Rashid said ESSCom had foiled at least six kidnapping attempts in ESSZone before the abduction in Sandakan.

He called on the people of Sabah, particularly the residents of coastal areas in ESSZone, to always cooperate with ESSCom in strengthening security further in the vast ESSZone area. – Bernama