'Security situation in Esszone so much better now'

Tawau: The security situation in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) has improved so much for the better since the imposition of curfew in July last year, said Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Assean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Business Council Chairman Datuk Roselan Johar Mohamed.He said this augured well for business activities, particularly the tourism industry in Esszone with majority of the tourism operators calling for the curfew to stay on indefinitely.

"For example, nowadays, the tourists and visitors in Semporna are feeling much safer and more confident to move around due to the physical presence of the Eastern Sabah Security Command's (Esscom) police personnel and other armed guards, especially on the islands.

"This augurs well for our tourism industry and the number of tourists (coming to Semporna) are ever increasing," he said in a statement, Wednesday.

The curfew from 7pm until 5am is enforced at those areas located three nautical miles from the shore, from Sandakan to Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Semporna up till the jetty of Tawau over a distance of 362 nautical miles and covering an area of 121,270 square nautical miles.

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Roselan said local fishermen with local crews were still able to go out to sea to earn a livelihood and were never restricted as long as they obtained permission to go out to sea from their local police station.

"In the event they hire foreign crews, then these crews must hold a valid certification," he said.

"We must give credit to our uniformed personnel who have been on constant surveillance with vigilance in the high seas to assure our safety and (that of) visitors alike," he said.

He said in BIMP-EAGA, tourism was now becoming its most important pillar because it brought in real cash into the country and, hence, the locals needed to be more accommodating to let the tourists enjoyed their stay here.

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The local stakeholders also needed to be more innovative to lure tourists to come and visit the state, he said.

"Making a floating homestay on the drying platforms of our seaweed plantation is one of the ways because besides the diving, the tourists can learn more of our seaweed industry," he added.

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