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Cabinet wants Esscom to boost level of preparedness, surveillance — DPM BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

Cabinet wants Esscom to boost level of preparedness, surveillance — DPM

Posted: 05 Apr 2014 12:25 PM PDT

LEDANG: The Cabinet has ordered the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) to boost its level of preparedness, surveillance and intelligence following the kidnapping incident in the waters of Sabah on Wednesday.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the government viewed seriously the recurrence of the crime, with the latest incident involving the kidnapping of two women, including a Chinese national, at a resort on Pulau Singgahmata, Semporna.

"We view the recurring issue seriously, especially after Esscom was set up, but it continued to take place.

"We are aware the area is not easy to guard because of the long coastline and its close proximity to islands under the Philippines," he told reporters after launching the Lifelong Islamic Education Programme at the Ledang Community College, here, yesterday.

Muhyiddin was asked to comment on the kidnapping incident which occurred  despite the existence of Esscom.

Muhyiddin said Esscom would be called to give a special briefing at the coming Cabinet meeting on its capability to face criminal threats.

"The Cabinet yesterday decided that we scrutinise the structure of command at Esscom which has agencies there such as the army and police.

"In addition, we will also look at the military assets such as boats and helicopters. So, we will call Esscom to brief us," he said.

In the meantime, Muhyiddin said Esscom was asked to disseminate information to the public, especially resort operators and tourists, on precautionary measures that must be taken in the areas concerned.

He said the authorities, meanwhile, were still trying to track down the victims.

He hoped they were unharmed and would be released by their captors. — Bernama

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Resort operators told to ensure workers are registered

Posted: 05 Apr 2014 12:11 PM PDT

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment ministry wants resort operators to scrutinise and ensure that their workers were registered and possessed valid identification documents.

Its minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said a directive to the effect was issued on Friday.

According to him, the ministry had received reports of resort operators employing workers without valid documents.

"Matters such as this should not arise as it was discussed at the meeting with island resort operators early last year, that they should know the background of their workers and in the case of foreign workers, necessity of a valid work pass," he told reporters after attending an Education department function here Friday night.

He said the state tourism and culture office being the tourism licensing agency must take action against resort operators who failed to comply with regulations.

On the kidnap incident involving a female Chinese national and a Filipina at Singamata Adventures and Reef Resort in Semporna on Wednesday, Masidi said the focus now was on finding and rescuing the victims.

He also stressed that it was not the right time to discuss the consequence of the case on the tourism industry.

"There is an impact but I hope it is just temporary and we must give enough time to the security forces to locate and rescue the victims," he said.

He said the question of whether the resort should cease its operations was immaterial while investigations were still being carried out. — Bernama

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Unfair to blame kidnappings on Esscom — Saharuddin

Posted: 05 Apr 2014 12:11 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Crime Prevention Awareness Board president Datuk Seri Dr Saharuddin Awang Yahya yesterday said it was unfair for any quarters to simply put the blame on the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) for every kidnapping case at any resorts in Sabah islands.

He said this was because the resort management should also shoulder the responsibility to ensure the safety of tourists, as well as its own workers.

"Instead of blaming Esscom, the resort management should start giving priority to the safety of tourists because this (kidnapping incident) involves national pride and can affect the tourism industry.

"I think, for a start, resort managements can increase the number of their security personnel to carry out periodical patrol, besides installing more sophisticated security devices, such as closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras around their resort areas," he told Bernama when contacted here yesterday.

Saharuddin said this in response to the latest kidnapping case at a resort on Pulau Singamata, Semporna, involving a woman from China and a 40-year-old worker of Singamata Adventures Reef and Resort known  from the Philippines, last Wednesday.

Saharuddin said all initiatives must be taken by the resort management because this was not the first time a kidnapping incident involving resorts occurred in Sabah.  — Bernama

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Esscom to sweep resort islands clean of illegals

Posted: 05 Apr 2014 11:35 AM PDT

LAHAD DATU: The Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) is determined to clean out the resorts on islands within the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (EssZone) of illegal workers who have the potential to be  in cahoots with cross-border criminals.

In this regard, Esscom director-general Datuk Mohammad Mentek said a major operation would be launched soon following the kidnapping case at a resort on Pulau Singamata, Semporna, on Wednesday.

"Based on feedback and the modus operandi of the kidnappers, it is clear that the criminals knew their way round the area including the guests at the resort.

"We suspect they have an accomplice at the resort, a local who originated from the Philippines who gave them early information..this should not have happened," he said in a statement here yesterday.

In the latest kidnapping case, a woman from China and a resort worker from the Philippines were kidnapped from the Singamata Adventures Reef and Resort by a group of armed men.

The Chinese national was identified as student Gao Hua Yua, 29, from Shanghai and the resort worker as Marcy Dayawan or Mimi, 40.

The water resort with 60 rooms, about two nautical miles from Semporna town, has been in operation since 10 years ago.

Mohammad reiterated his warning that firm action would be taken against resort operators operating in the EssZone area if they hired illegals.

He said Esscom had met the resort operators three times on the matter, including suggesting they install closed-circuit television cameras and hire security guards.

"All quarters including resort operators must be responsible to ensure security in the EssZone," he added. — Bernama

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Resort operators issued directive following Semporna kidnap case

Posted: 04 Apr 2014 11:57 PM PDT

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment ministry wants resort operators to scrutinise and ensure that theirworkers were registered and possessed valid identification documents.

Its minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said a directive to the effect was
issued yesterday (Friday).

According to him, the ministry had received reports of resort operators
employing workers without valid documents.

"Matters such as this should not arise as it was discussed at the meeting
with island resort operators early last year, that they should know the
background of their workers and in the case of foreign workers, necessity of a
valid work pass," he told reporters after attending an Education department
function here last night.

He said the state tourism and culture office being the tourism licensing
agency must take action against resort operators who failed to comply with
regulations.

On the kidnap incident involving a female Chinese national and a Filipina at
Singamata Adventures and Reef Resort in Semporna on Wednesday, Masidi said the
focus now was on finding and rescuing the victims.

He also stressed that it was not the right time to discuss the consequence
of the case on the tourism industry.

"There is an impact but I hope it is just temporary and we must give enough
time to the security forces to locate and rescue the victims," he said.

He said the question of whether the resort should cease its operations was
immaterial while investigations were still being carried out. -Bernama

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Tourists undeterred despite kidnapping

Posted: 04 Apr 2014 08:23 PM PDT

by Elton Gomes. Posted on April 5, 2014, Saturday

SEMPORNA: Business was back to normal at the Singamata Reef Resort here following Wednesday's kidnapping of a Chinese tourist and a Filipino resort worker.

Despite heavy presence of security force personnel patrolling around the island, tourists continue to make their way to the 60-room resort which is located about two nautical miles from Semporna town.

"We were aware of the incident but decided to go ahead with our plan to stay as we have booked the resort in advance," said one Chinese tourist who only wished to be known as Wong.

Wong and her friends arrived at the Singamata Reef Resort just hours after their countryman and a Filipino staff were kidnapped from the resort.

"We received phone calls from our family back home after arriving in Tawau.

"After much consideration and discussion with the group, we decided to stay on and enjoy our holiday.

"After all, we had paid for the package and will be a waste if we have to abandon our trip," she said, adding that several tourists have however decided to cut short their stay at the resort after learning of the abduction.

Meanwhile, two Australian couples said they had planned the family trip together to Sabah for a while.

Frank and Sandra Caruana, both 62, and their travel partners John and Sharon Clarke, have bought holiday package to spend 12 days in Sabah, which includes a couple of days at the state capital, Sandakan, Lahad Datu, and a two-day stay at the Mabul Resort.

When asked about safety, the four agreed that they did not feel threatened.

"Incidents happen anywhere, sometimes in places you least expected. So when we travel, we have to be careful and cautious at all times," said Frank.

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