Eastern Sabah Security Command
{{Short description|Malaysian maritime security area}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name=Eastern Sabah Security Command
|nativename=Kawasan Keselamatan Khas Pantai Timur Sabah
|partof=National Security Council
|location=Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia
|coordinates=
|image=ESSCOM Map.png
|image_size=350px
|caption={{legend|#00BC18|ESSCOM area.}}
|type=Security Command of Eastern Sabah Area
|code=
|built= 2013
|builder=
|materials=
|height=
|used=2013–present
|demolished=
|condition=
|ownership= 20px Government of Malaysia
|controlledby=Joint operations of
Malaysian Armed Forces
Royal Malaysia Police
and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
|garrison= Headquarters:
Lahad Datu
Area districts:
Kudat
Sandakan
Lahad Datu
Kunak
Tawau
|current_commander = DCP Datuk Victor Sanjos (Since Jun 2023)
|occupants=
|battles= 2013 Lahad Datu standoff
Cross border attacks in Sabah
|events=
}}
The Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) is a Malaysian security area that covers 1,400 km of the east coast of Sabah from Kudat to Tawau.{{cite news|title=ESSZONE Set up to halt incursions|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2013/3/26/nation/12886954&sec=nation|newspaper=The Star (Malaysia)}} It was announced on 7 March 2013 by Musa Aman, the Sabah State Chief Minister.{{cite news|title=Phase one of security area named ESS Com|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?sec=nation&file=/2013/3/12/nation/12822551|newspaper=The Star (Malaysia)}} Its purpose is to strengthen maritime security in the eastern part of Sabah following the persistent attacks by pirates and militants in the southern Philippines especially after the 2013 Lahad Datu standoff, while at the same time ensuring that trade and business activity are not affected. The ESSCOM headquarters and main base is currently located in Lahad Datu.
On 8 July 2014, then-Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak announced the restructuring of the ESSCOM with the setting up of two major components - security and defence management as well as enforcement and public action.
Scope
ESSCOM is the authoritative body that oversees Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZONE), which comprises the districts of Kudat, Kota Marudu, Pitas, Beluran, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau.{{cite news|title=Security area widened in east Sabah|url=http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/security-area-widened-in-east-sabah-1.241972|newspaper=New Straits Times}}{{cite news|title=Sabah Immigration director is Esscom chief|url=http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/sabah-immigration-director-is-esscom-chief-1.244510|newspaper=New Straits Times}} The body is chaired by the Chief Minister of Sabah, assisted by a CEO appointed by the government.{{cite news|title=Government-appointed CEO to oversee operations of Eastern Sabah Security Command|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2013/3/17/nation/12849426&sec=nation|newspaper=The Star (Malaysia)}} ESSCOM's primary initiative is the establishment of new police stations to further improve security.{{cite news|title=Government forms East Sabah Safe Zone|url=http://www.nst.com.my/latest/font-color-red-update-font-government-forms-east-sabah-safe-zone-1.241426|newspaper=New Straits Times}}
Visits
On 9 June 2014, around 20 students from the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) visited ESSCOM headquarters to know the concept of the security area, particularly its integrated operations involving various agencies as well as procedures in dealing with challenges and issues that arise. The delegation was led by Major General Sir Sebastian John Lechmere Roberts along with other 19 senior military officers and civilians from various countries including Sudan, Lebanon, Italy, Estonia, Egypt, Ghana, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Kenya and the United Kingdom.{{cite news|url=http://www.newsabahtimes.com.my/nstweb/fullstory/78095|title=RCDS students visit ESSCOM HQ|publisher=New Sabah Times|date=10 June 2014|access-date=13 January 2015}} On 25 August 2016, four Japanese delegates from the Japan Terrorism Prevention Unit also visited ESSCOM.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=112361|title=Japanese officials visit Esscom|publisher=Daily Express (Malaysia)|date=26 August 2016|access-date=26 August 2016}}
Director-General
The Director-General of ESSCOM is selected on a rotational basis.[http://www.sinarharian.com.my/semasa/abdul-rashid-dilantik-pengarah-operasi-esscom-1.281730], "Beliau berkata, tempoh pelantikan itu adalah selama enam bulan dan ia dilaksanakan secara bergilir-gilir."
| class=wikitable |
| Name
!Former Position !Take office |Out Office |Time in office |Note |
|---|
| Datuk Mohammad Mentek
|Sabah immigration department director |01/04/2013 |07/08/2014 |1 year |1st Sabahan, East Malaysian and non police officer appointed as Esscom commander |
| Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun
|Police, Internal Security and Public Order, former Pasukan Gerakan Khas VAT69 commander.[http://www.nst.com.my/node/10819], VAT69 commander to lead Esscom in power restructure |08/08/2014 |22/12/2015 |1 year |He was then transferred and appointed as Sabah police commissioner before he retired in 2017 |
| Datuk Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid
|Kuala Lumpur police contingent Public Order Department head |23/12/2015 |18/07/2017 |2 years | |
| Datuk Hazani Ghazali
|Special Actions Unit Commander, Royal Malaysian Police |19/07/2017 |04/09/2020 |3 years |He was later appointed as Internal and Public Order Security Department director in late 2020 |
| DCP Dato Ahmad Fuad Othman
|Sarawak Brigade, General Operations Force Commander |05/09/2020 |11/12/2021 |1 year | |
| DCP Ahmad Hamzah
|Federal Reserve Unit Commander |12/12/2021 |17/05/2023 |1 year, 5 months and 5 days |Transferred to Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department, Bukit Aman |
| DCP Mohd Ali Tamby
|Special Actions Unit (Malaysia) & Chief of Staff, Special Forces unit, Esscom |18/05/2023 |10/06/2023 |1 month | |
| DCP Victor Sanjos
|Deputy Kelantan state police chief |11/06/2023 (acting) & 03/07/2023 (official duty)-now | |1 year |2nd East Malaysian and Sabahan commander as of 2023 |
See also
- Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZONE)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official|http://esscom.gov.my/}}
{{Zone or Special Area in Sabah}}
{{Moro conflict}}
{{Federal Government of Malaysia}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Federal ministries, departments and agencies of Malaysia
Category:Military units and formations established in 2013