TAWAU: The effort to enhance security assets under the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) should be prioritized, especially in strategic locations like the Road Check Point (RCP) Sapi Nangoh and Kalabakan, which serve as main routes for thousands of vehicles daily.
Mohd. Zaki Harry Susanto, an advisor to the Sabah Drug and Crime Prevention Organization (PPDJS), stated that the allocation of approximately RM21.2 billion received by the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) for 2026 should be utilized effectively to strengthen the capabilities of assets and facilities of all security agencies under the ministry, including the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM), and ESSCOM.
According to Mohd. Zaki, RCP Sapi Nangoh particularly requires immediate attention due to public reports and information regarding the activities of illegal immigrants (PTI) allegedly using organized tactics involving express buses.
“The information received indicates that certain parties are using tricks to deceive the security personnel on duty. One of their ‘Modus Operandi’ is to instruct PTI to disembark early before reaching the RCP, hide them in the bus’s undercarriage, and cover them with luggage, then load them back after passing the inspection.
“We believe this is orchestrated by the bus drivers and conductors, who likely receive payment for doing so. Just imagine how many PTI have already ‘slipped through’ if an express bus only carries three or four PTI in one trip. Not to mention, how much money do they earn from this criminal activity?”
He said that the personnel at the RCP have been performing their duties well, but the situation at the RCP demands the use of more advanced and high-tech inspection equipment to close any gaps in security and prevent breaches that could compromise national safety.
