style="text-transform: uppercase;">Kuala Lumpur: Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan bin Kassim assured that there was no leak of information from law enforcement agencies and security forces in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone). He said the leak of information was currently focused on "tali barut" (informants), especially among the illegal immigrants (Pati) in Sabah.

"The information was suspected to have leaked to kidnap-for-ransom groups.

"These informants have become the eyes and ears to monitor the movement of not only the security forces but also the targets," Shahidan said when answering Barisan Nasional (BN) Senator Datuk Chin Su Phin's question to the Prime Minister on the latest effort to curb information leak in the Esszone and actions taken by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) during the Dewan Negara sitting.

Shahidan said existence of the informants was caused by the flood of illegal immigrants into Sabah as their countries of origin did not provide sufficient economic opportunities.

To curb this issue, he said Esscom has carried out operations to nab illegal immigrants without valid travel documents in Sabah, particularly those in the east coast.

In addition, he said Esscom has collaborated with government agencies in organising "Cinta Anak Watan" programme to instil patriotism among the community so that they would work hand-in-hand with the security forces to safeguard the country.

He said Esscom and the Department of National Unity and Integration (JPNIN) also held "Sayangi Komuniti" programme involving 10 districts in the Esszone to create awareness among community leaders such as Rukun Tetangga chiefs, village heads and Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) chairmen that they should cooperate with the security and enforcement agencies if their neighborhood or village were involved in undesirable situation.

Shahidan said Esscom also meet with fishermen's associations, tugboat operators, oil palm plantation investors, farmers and communities in the Esszone to share safety information.

"The information shared is limited. Such security briefings are important so that these groups are constantly being updated on the latest information about the work of Esscom, besides strengthening the relations between the public and security forces."

He said maritime volunteers were also set up whereby Members of Parliament in the Esszone were appointed as commanders of the Malaysian Maritime.

"They will subsequently appoint maritime volunteers comprising locals to look after their respective areas," he said.

Shahidan said it was hoped that such efforts could diminish the role of informants and enhance the communities' spirit of keeping their areas safe.