SECURITY forces in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) are getting a boost to increase safety and restore confidence among tourists and the local population.
Malaysian daily The Star reported that three General Operations Force and three armed forces battalions have been assigned to the high-risk area to enable a swift response to security threats.
The number of police stations has also been increased, while Sabah is studying the feasibility of upgrading its radar system for a security boost.
Shahidan Kassim, minister in the prime minister’s department, was quoted as saying: “We have deployed 31 high-speed and bulletproof boats to enhance monitoring under various maritime agencies along Sabah’s waters.”
Arokia Das, senior manager of Luxury Tours Malaysia, welcomed the measures as a “good start” to recovering tourist traffic in the affected areas, but is not taking the risk of sending visitors there.
“We still prefer recommending tourists to go to Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park in Kota Kinabalu for sea activities. We don’t want to take chances.”
The extra boost in security follows a number of high-profile kidnapping cases including one that saw Chinese national and fish farm manager Yang Zai Lin kidnapped from his workplace, Wonderful Terrace on Pulau Baik (Baik Island), about 30km south of Lahad Datu (TTG Asia e-Daily, May 7, 2014); and the murder of a Taiwanese tourist and abduction of his wife at Pom Pom Island Resort on Pom Pom Island, a 45-minute boat ride from the town of Semporna, Sabah, last year (TTG Asia e-Daily, November 18, 2013).
