KUALA LUMPUR JAN.14: A new Malaysian Army camp worth RM646.2 million will be built in Felda Sahabat, Lahad Datu, Sabah as one of the several initiatives to empower the safety and defence of Sabah.
Senior Minister of Defence, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said, among the aims of building the new camp is to transfer one infantry battalion and 13th Brigade units as an effort to elevate the level of competency and preparedness of Malaysian Army in encountering current threats and subsequently strengthening the level of safety in the East Coast of Sabah.
Hishammuddin added, the other initiative is to reactivate and empower the Trilateral Cooperative Arrangement (TCA) involving the cooperation of Malaysian, Indonesia and the Philippines’ military to elevate safety controls in the Sulu Sea and Sulawesi.
“I have already informed my counterparts in the two countries and they have agreed on my intention. In relation to that a Minister of Defence Meeting involving Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines will be held on 27th January 2022 to discuss the plan.
“The plan to heighten the level of safety in Sulu Sea and Sulawesi was also brought up by Sabah Chief Minister in my meeting with him yesterday,” Hishammuddin said in a statement on the second day of his visit to Sabah today.
In another development, Hishammuddin said, the safety operations through ESSCOM throughout 2021 had been implemented well and competent to encounter threats and this includes kidnap for ransom, sea robbery and smuggling, the entry of illegal immigrants (PATI), militancy and terrorisms.
Through several operations conducted and close cooperation with Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), Royal Police Malaysia (RPM) and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, throughout the year 2021 ESSCOM had succeeded in confiscating drugs worth RM3.34 million, confiscating smuggled cigarettes and controlled products worth RM1.38 million; and detained 154 PATI with 393 boats; drove out 1,407 PATI with 119 boats; checked on 30,666 boats.
“There is no report on new kidnap cases recorded in ESSZone throughout 2021 and based on the successes that I have listed, ESSCOM informed me that relatively ESSZone is safe and under control,” Hishammuddin said.-Malaysia World News
