KOTA KINABALU: The State Government will fully support any changes made to the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) so long as it continues to be effective, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.
“We welcome whatever changes, whether it is for cost cutting or not, but most important is the effectiveness of Esscom’s role in Sabah,” he said.
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He was commenting on Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador’s plans to restructure Esscom.
Hamid Bador was reported as saying disbanding Esscom was not part of his plans after taking over as the country’s police chief but would be restructured to improve law and order.
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“I am aware of this matter, including the proposed changes to be made by the Federal Government and we will give our full co-operation,” he said after chairing the first Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) Supreme Council meeting following the party’s inaugural congress last month, here, Sunday.
Meanwhile, Shafie, who is also Warisan President, said the Supreme Council discussed membership expansion as a move to strengthen the party.
He said the party would be meticulous and thorough in processing new membership applications to ensure it only has members with good intention.
“Membership is not just about numbers but to get those who will carry out the party’s struggles; those who came in with sincerity and not simply for the sake of joining the party,” he added.
He said Warisan would come up with membership cards which would then be handed out to the party’s registered members in the hope of strengthening the party.
To date, there are more than 200,000 members, including new ones, whose membership cards will be issued soon after Hari Raya celebrations.
On approved branches, he said there are more than 3,000 branches from 26 divisions but out of that number, about 600 had so far been approved.
“We are waiting for the green light from the Registrar of Societies not only in terms of number of branches but membership; all this while they have been applying, but there has been a deadlock.
“However, we expect things to be smoother moving forward,” said Shafie.
On the issue of PKR questioning DAP on allowing a non-Sabahan to be Nominated Assemblyman, referring to Loh Ee Eng, who hails from Pulau Pinang, Shafie said this was done on the basis of party request.
“If the party suggests a member to be appointed, it is a party request, not an individual request.
“The members could have been residing (in Sabah) for a long time, they are still party members and have been here working with us.
“The allocation is for the party, PKR has its own quota and Sabah DAP did not question it,” said Shafie.
Meanwhile, Sabah Education and Innovation Minister Dr Yusof Yaacob has been named as the new Warisan information chief. Most of the other Warisan office bearers remain unchanged.
