style="text-transform: uppercase;">Sandakan: The Pakatan Harapan Government is urged to continue providing allocation to the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) as it is important to safeguard Sabah's east coast. In the 2018 Budget, the Barisan Nasional (BN) government provided a special allocation to Esscom of RM280.25 million. But, there doesn't seem to have any allocation for Esscom in the Pakatan Harapan's 2019 Budget.

This was pointed out by Libaran MP Datuk Zakaria Mohd Edris when debating budget at the Dewan Rakyat sitting, recently.

"According to the chronology of kidnapping issue that occurred in the east coast of Sabah from 2000 to now, before Esscom was established in 2013, it was found that from 2000 to 2012, seven incidents involving 40 hostages and two deaths have occurred," he said.

"After Esscom was established, from 2013 to date, a total of 11 incidents, 23 hostages and two deaths were reported. Kidnapping cases occur frequently in the waters rather than on land. In 2014, the government introduced a dusk-till-dawn curfew (6pm to 6am)," he added.

He said although the curfew has been introduced, kidnapping still took place in Pulau Gaya off Semporna at midnight recently, adding that it took place during the curfew hour.

"It is understood that the fishing company concerned had requested to be allowed to fish during the curfew hour. Thus, has the Ministry proposed to review the flexibility of the curfew? he asked.

On the setting up of a Special Cabinet Committee to review and monitor the implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), Zakaria said Sabah and Sarawak's growth and development need to be accelerated as East Malaysia has the potential to generate high economic growth by optimising natural resources and geographical positions.

He has high hopes on the 11 members of the Special Cabinet Committee and hope for the research done and the results to be based on the prosperity of the people, especially in Sabah and Sarawak.

He also requested that eight development projects approved by BN for the Libaran Parliamentary Constituency to be continued by the Pakatan Harapan Government for the wellbeing of the people in the area. -

Mardinah Jikur

Photo Source: Wikipedia