Enemies within: Many not cooperating — ESSCom
BELURAN: The Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) which was established following the intrusion of Sulu terrorists in Tanduo two years ago, has to now deal with "enemies from within" in defending the sovereignty and security of the Sabah people, especially in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone). ESSCom Chief of Staff (Special Investigation and Technical) SAC Rosli Mohd Isa said the support and cooperation from all quarters, especially the community in the coastal areas of ESSZone, was crucial to overcome such a threat and to ensure the area remained safe and peaceful.
"For example, in the abduction KOTA BELUD: A group of Rotary Club Tanjung Aru members, who are engineers, made a study visit to Kampung Pinilobu in Kota Belud to check on its water system.
According to the Village Development and Security Committee chairman Jalni Mison, there are five villages in that area facing water problems.
“We do have water pipes installed in certain places. However, there is no water flowing as the pressure is not strong enough to push the water,” he said.
“Apart from Kampung Pinilobu, there are four other villages namely, Kampung Tamalang, Kampung Linampai, Kampung Nongkulat and Kampung Bukid that face the same ordeal.
“What the villagers do now is they look for gravity water, otherwise we would depend on rainwater, if there is. Even the river water is not safe to use due to the recent mud flood which affected our district,” said Jalni.
Phang Ah Cheng, one of the engineers, explained that they will study the whole water tap system project and bring up the issue to the club for further analysis.
He said the club may proceed with this project. However, cooperation from the community is very much needed when it comes to the maintenance of the amenities provided to them so that they can be used for long term.
“We are seriously looking into helping the community with their water problems. However, we also need their (villagers) cooperation to help maintain the water taps, pipes, and other devices and not to spoil them, so that they can be used for a long time.
“We want to do for the community at large and we do not charge anything to the end-users but help us to look after it,” Phang said during their visit to one of the affected villages in Kota Belud.
Rotary Club Tanjung Aru President Stanley Tee emphasised that great awareness and some knowledge are two important things needed for the villagers in order for them to know how to take care of things provided for them.
“Awareness on how to take care of shared facility is very important to everyone, so that they know how to appreciate things and that it can be used for as long as they need it.
“After all, what we do is entirely for the good of the community. I just hope everyone plays their part to take care of the facilities given to them at no cost,” Stanley said. case at the Ocean King Restaurant in Sandakan recently, it was impossible for the criminals to come direct from the neighbouring country, know when to come and leave the Sandakan waters safely, and know their target, including the people to kidnap.
"The criminals seem to know everything because there are inside people who provide information. This is our challenge, the enemies from within.
“These moles, believed to be illegal immigrants, are everywhere among us, especially in ESSZone," he said in his talk on security after breaking fast organised by ESSCom at the Nurhidayah Mosque, Kampung Kolapis near here on Monday night.
As such, he advised the ESSZone community to report immediately the presence of illegal immigrants or suspicious characters in their villages to enable the security authorities to act early to effectively prevent cross-border crimes.
"Despite ESSCom repeatedly appealing to the people, including village heads and chairmen of the Village Security and Development Committees, to do so, many did not.
"When security authorities launch operations against illegal immigrants, many were arrested, but they were not reported as requested. Assist and provide us (ESSCom) information. Security is a joint responsibility," he added.
Rosli said ESSCom, with 150 staff, could not do the job alone without public support and cooperation, especially residents in ESSZone.
He also advised residents in the coastal areas to always be alert of any eventualities because "we do not know when the cross-border criminals are going to strike".
"Although Beluran is calm and peaceful, we have to always be cautious as still waters run deep," he added.
Rotary Club engineers to help fix water woes in five Kota Belud villages