Despite kidnapping threats, influx of tourists and investors into Malaysian eastern Borneo

This shows the area is safe, says a top security official.

The Eastern Sabah Security Command says preemptive measures are being undertaken to ensure especially kidnapping or incursion by foreign militants does not occur in the area. (Esscom pic)

SABAH: The influx of tourists and foreign investors into eastern Sabah shows that the Malaysian Borneo region is secure although transborder kidnapping risks still exist, said a top security official.

The Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police Hamzah Ahmad, said this increase also shows the area is safe for visitors and investors.

"It has been 10 years since Esscom was established to maintain security, peace and stability on the east coast of Sabah," said Hamzah according to Sabah paper The Daily Express. 

"During the 10 years since the establishment of Esscom, many successes have been achieved where if we look at the influx of tourists and foreign investors to the east coast area of ​​Sabah, it clearly shows that this area is safe to visit, for investment and business, and it shows that Esscom is very relevant in this area."

According to Hamzah, there is no denying that the threat of maritime transborder kidnapping-for-ransom persists but Esscom is prepared for any situation.

Esscom, he said, has already taken precautionary and preemptive measures to ensure that chaos, especially kidnapping or incursion by foreign militants, does not occur in the area.

Hamzah also said a Sea Inspection Centre (SCP) is being streamlined to combat crossborder crime.

"Actually, this SCP already exists. We just want to streamline the system, inspection structure and organisation," he added.

Militants from the Sulu region of the southern Philippines intruded into parts of eastern Sabah in 2013 to stake their territorial claim, resulting in a bloody standoff between them and Malaysian security forces. 

Ten members of the Malaysian security forces and dozens of Sulu militants died in the clashes, after which Malaysia incepted Esscom and designated eastern Sabah as a special security region called the Eastern Sabah Security Zone or Esszone. 

The Sulu Sea which the Esszone shares with the southern Philippines was a hotbed of maritime kidnapping, the most infamous of which was the 2000 Malaysian Sipadan resort island kidnapping by the Abu Sayyaf Group of 20 people including European and Middle Eastern tourists. 

The Abu Sayyaf is a terror group in the southern Philippines designated by several countries. 

Since Esscom's formation, kidnapping incidents decreased, with the latest one in 2020 when the Abu Sayyaf Group grabbed several Indonesian fishermen in eastern Sabah waters.