Consider floating barriers in Esszone areas

Published on: Saturday, February 04, 2017

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By JCYK
THE Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) was established for the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) a Malaysian security area that covers 1,400 km of the east coast of Sabah from Kudat to Tawau.

It was established by Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Najib and announced on 7 March 2013 by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman. Its purpose is to strengthen maritime security in the eastern part of Sabah following the persistent attacks by pirates and militants in the southern Philippines especially after the 2013 stand-off at Lahad Datu, while at the same time ensuring that trade and business activity are not affected.

The Esscom headquarters and main bases are at Lahad Datu.

It has been observed that Esscom has incurred a few billion ringgit of assets and operation costs for almost four years without much results as intended despite a curfew in Esszone for the same period.

Kidnappings for ransom had been going on in the Sulu and Celebes seas between Esszone and Philippines despite Esscom.

Actually the security/piracy scenario in the Esszone has gone worse with the latest decision by major shipping companies operating in the area to by-pass the Sulu/Celebes seas and, instead, go for a longer eastern sea passage of Philippines.

I would like to hear from Sabah ports in Esszone how such shipping passage diversion by major shipping companies may have affected the port activities in the area.

Isn’t it enough effort of 4 years of Esscom to find new strategy to deal with criminal activities in the open seas?

While China’s “wall of sand” in South China Sea has been much questioned, is it too much to build floating pvc barriers along the sea border in Esszone to restrict free movement at all time with controlled toll/immigration/passage/approved users- gates at one or two or three points?

If gas and oil pipelines can be built under the water, is it not possible for floating “fence”?

We need fast action to make the appropriate decision in Esszone to ensure security is guaranteed at all time for the prosperous businesses in east Sabah to return.

JCYK