Sabah to beef up security with attack helicopters and drones

From AsiaOne (Dec 17): Sabah to beef up security with attack helicopters and drones



The Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) will beef up its assets as the government looks to strengthen the security level in Sabah's volatile east coast, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

PUTRAJAYA: The Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) will beef up its assets as the government looks to strengthen the security level in Sabah's volatile east coast, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic).

The Deputy Prime Minister said the Government had already begun deploying more attack helicopters, drones and radars with increased area of coverage.

"The areas in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone, which stretches about 1,700km, faces continuous threats 365 days a year. There are intruders waiting for the perfect moment to sneak in."Therefore, there is a need to beef up our security, in terms of our assets and omnipresence, to protect the sovereignty of the country, particularly the land of Sabah," he said after chairing a high-level meeting on development and acquisitions for Esscom at the Home Ministry building here.

Also present at the meeting were Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.Dr Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said the meeting focused on Esscom's usage of existing assets and to identify its weaknesses so it could be improved.

"We know the intruders use guerrilla warfare tactics we must not fall into their trap. We need to outsmart them and learn from those big countries who faltered against these tactics," said Dr Ahmad Zahid.





http://news.asiaone.com/news/malaysia/sabah-beef-security-attack-helicopters-and-drones