Esscom reviewing the Standard Operating Procedures
Published on: Friday, September 30, 2016
Semporna: The Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) has streamlined and is re-studying draft proposals on Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) developed during a workshop held in Kota Kinabalu recently. Semporna District Officer Dr Chacho Bullah said the revision and discussions were important to ensure the SOP contains all the works involved, as well as rules and laws of relevant agencies. "This is to ensure a coordinated and comprehensive SOP because it will be a reference and used by all implementing agencies in the field to manage, regulate and enforce the law in protected areas in the district. The SOP will also provide a framework for management and regulatory structure to create a uniformity of regulation in the area," he said.ADVERTISEMENT He said this after chairing a meeting of the Working Committee on the Management and Monitoring of Protected Areas for 11 islands and two reefs at the district office, here, Thursday. Also present were State Attorney General Datuk Mariati Robert, Esscom Public Action Division Director Rohiman Rahia and Esscom Technical and Special Investigations Chief of Staff ACP Victor Santos. Dr Chacho who is Chairman of the Joint Working Committee on Management and Monitoring of Protected Areas in Semporna, said the establishment of the SOP is expected to be of much help to Esscom to regulate and strengthen the area, particularly on enforcement and security. He is confident that the declaration of protected areas involved will not affect local socio-economic activities, including the activities of fishermen, seaweed farming and tourism with the involvement of many parties and agencies. Enforcement and security agencies engaged in the enforcement of regulations and laws in the area include the police, district office, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the Joint Task Force II. ADVERTISEMENT Also involved are the Customs Department, Marine Department, Immigration Department, Fisheries Department, Sabah Parks Board of Trustees, Land and Survey Department, National Security Council and the Division of Internal Affairs and Research, and the Chief Minister's Department. For the record, the declaration order on Protected Areas was approved by Deputy Prime Minister Dato' Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who was then Home Minister on Nov 13, 2015 over 11 islands and two reefs. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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This is because the areas were identified as staging points and routes for cross border criminals to commit crimes, particularly kidnapping and robbery in the waters off Semporna and Lahad Datu. The islands are Pulau Sibuan, Pulau Maiga, Pulau Gaya, Pulau Mantabuan, Pulau Sibangkat, Pulau Selakan, Pulau Tetagan, Pulau Bohey Dulang, Pulau Kulapuan, Pulau Bohayen and Pulau Timba-Timba. The two reefs are Sibangkat reef and Batura reef.
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The establishment of the committee and its membership was certified by the Chief Minister on Feb. 25 this year.