TAWAU: The Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) considers the success of the Kampung Angkat Madani (KAM) project in Inderasabah as a significant achievement for the frontline security coordinator in the region.
Esscom CEO, Datuk Dr Jamaluddin Mohd Ali, described the success as a benchmark for strengthening relations with the community, particularly the maritime community in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone).
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“Overall, we see that the public is aware of the importance of safety and the responsibility to ensure the country’s security does not solely lie with the security forces, as we all have our respective roles.
“We cannot just rely on security forces to monitor the entire 1,400 km coastline of Esszone. The community needs to be the eyes and ears consistently,” he said.
Dr Jamaluddin made these remarks during the handover ceremony of the completed KAM project and the Esscom Back-to-School Program in Inderasabah on Saturday, which was also attended by the Minister of Youth Development, Sports, and Creative Economy, Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan.
He explained that after 12 years of Esscom’s operations, safety awareness has seen positive feedback, particularly regarding the bilateral relationship between the community and Esscom.
“Strong ties with the community will continue to be enhanced, including through new projects aimed at involving young people and raising overall safety awareness,” he said.
Regarding the KAM project, Dr Jamaluddin highlighted that all planned projects in Inderasabah had been successfully completed with a RM1 million allocation provided by the Ministry of Finance.
The project had been initiated since February 11, through a series of consultations, site visits, and technical meetings. The allocation approval for Esscom was finalized on March 1, and the project was officially launched on July 4.
“Now, we are not just talking about plans but handing over the results to the village community, which is proof that every initiative we planned has been translated into tangible execution,” he said.
Through KAM, physical projects such as the construction of village gateways, installation of solar lights, upgrading of bridges and paths to the jetty, renovations to the KEMAS daycare center, improvements to SK Inderasabah facilities, the village’s community hall, Al Furqan Mosque, and St. Joseph’s Church were successfully completed.
“Additionally, community welfare projects such as skills training and entrepreneurship courses, as well as gotong-royong (community work) activities, were fully implemented with active participation from the village residents,” he explained.
Esscom is optimistic about the possibility of more similar programs in the future, particularly those focusing on youth development, sports, and the economy in other areas within the Esszone, not limited to just one place.
Datuk Nizam, who was interviewed, expressed gratitude to the Madani Government for selecting Inderasabah as the sole site for the KAM pilot project by Esscom, which has proven to have a significant positive impact.
“We are thankful to the Prime Minister for his attention to rural areas, especially in improving infrastructure and the welfare of residents, as well as to implementing agencies like the Tawau Municipal Council (MPT) and Giat MARA Center.
“Nine infrastructure projects have been successfully completed, improving the welfare of the villagers, while the strong relationship with Esscom has instilled confidence in the security forces,” he said.
He also noted that the KAM approach was seen as a very effective one by the Madani Government, given the benefits it provides to the targeted groups, which had never been implemented in previous governments.
