Use UAVs to strengthen ESSCOM’s security controls – Hajiji

KOTA KINABALU: The time has come for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to be used to strengthen the effectiveness of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom), said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said this is to ensure the establishment of the ESSCom as security leader in coordinating the operation of security controls in the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (ESSZone) could be optimised, especially in terms of capability and preparedness of the security forces.
“Using UAVs will not only reduce the security risk to security team members on duty but also enhance air domain, especially in carrying out surveillance on the east coast area of Sabah and be more end-user oriented,” he said.
He said this in a speech, read out by Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Abidin Madingkir, at the ESSCom Media Appreciation Night here on Thursday night.
Hajiji, who is also the ESSZone Committee chairman and responsible for ESSCOM, said the use of new assets and technologies such as the UAV can further intensify security control in Sabah, especially in the ESSZone.
Meanwhile, Hajiji urged all media practitioners to continue educating the people through their news reporting to make them citizens who love the country and have a high sense of identity in defending the sovereignty of the country, especially Sabah.
He said the Unity Government’s promise to provide media freedom is a dream that is being fulfilled.
He said many things need to be considered before realising this dream, especially the explosion of information as technological advances change the way and culture of young people’s thinking.
“We do not want false information to influence our young people. To deal with this problem, the country needs a system that regulates media content so that only credible, accurate and reliable information reaches them,” he said.
— BERNAMA