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Kuala Lumpur: Newly appointed Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said he would give priority to the welfare of soldiers stationed in seven battalions in the Sabah East Coast Special Security Area (Esscom) and the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone). "Our promise to Sabahans to give priority to Esscom and Esszone is not a problem to me because former Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and I understand Sabah's security situation.

"The security situation will be our priority. And in the world without borders, threats to national security are so complex. We will ensure that peace prevails and the people feel safe.

"So we need to understand and examine every threat (to national security) and address it in the proper context in the quest to strengthen the country's sovereignty," he told reporters at a welcoming ceremony for him and his deputy, Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri at the Defence Ministry, here, Wednesday.

The military strength in Sabah's east coast will be beefed up by five more battalions to bring the total to seven battalions to reinforce security following the Sulu armed intrusion in Lahad Datu in February.

Sixty-eight Sulu terrorists were killed and 173 people arrested under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) and 443 more for other offences during the mopping up operations codenamed 'Ops Daulat' by security forces.

The operations also claimed the lives of eight policemen and two soldiers.