TAWAU: Sabah Drug and Crime Prevention Organisation (PPDJS) advisor Mohd Zaki Harry Susanto urged priority upgrades of Esscom security assets, particularly at Road Check Point (RCP) Sapi Nangoh and Kalabakan which handle heavy daily traffic.
He said the Home Ministry’s RM21.2 billion 2026 allocation should be used to strengthen facilities and assets of security agencies including police, Esscom and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), citing reports of organised illegal immigrants smuggling through express buses, especially, at RCP Sapi Nangoh.
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He said the tactic allegedly involves hiding immigrants in bus compartments with the help of drivers and conductors to deceive security personnel on duty.
“Among their modus operandi is instructing undocumented migrants to disembark early before reaching the RCP, hiding them in the undercarriage of the bus and covering them with luggage, before allowing them to be inside the bus.
“We believe this is masterminded by express bus drivers and conductors who are likely receiving certain payments to carry out these acts.
“Imagine how many undocumented migrants have slipped through — or could slip through — if an express bus carries only three or four undocumented migrants per trip. Not to mention how much they stand to earn from such criminal activities?” Mohd Zaki said in a statement.
While officers are performing well, he said advanced equipment such as thermal detectors and scanners are needed to close security gaps and be used by the personnel to check those buses that might smuggle illegal immigrants.
“At the very least, the Sapi Nangoh RCP must be equipped with thermal detection devices or equivalent equipment such as scanners that are not only capable of quickly and accurately detecting the presence of humans in vehicle compartments — particularly in express buses — but also other prohibited items,” he said.
Mohd Zaki said investment in security technology is not meant to undermine the competence of personnel on the ground, but rather to serve as an essential support to enhance operational effectiveness, especially along high-risk routes.
In addition to Sapi Nangoh, he also proposed that the Kalabakan RCP be given equal priority, as the location is likewise a key artery for vehicle movement in and out of border areas.
“Sabah’s security, particularly in the Esszone areas, requires a comprehensive approach involving physical assets, technology and personnel welfare. The large allocations announced must be translated into real impact on the ground,” he said.
