Kuala lumpur: The Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) is beefing up security in the eastern region of Sabah to facilitate the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly and the 17th State Election (PRN). Its commander, Datuk Victor Sanjos said ESSCOM, which involves the Royal Malaysia Police, the Malaysian Armed Forces, and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, is on high alert to safeguard the nation's sovereignty and ensure the welfare of the people during the process.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Victor Sanjos emphasized the importance of maintaining vigilance, especially with simultaneous elections occurring in southern Philippines. The overlapping elections, including those in Sabah, require ESSCOM's full attention to ensure a smooth and secure electoral process. During a visit to the Inderasabah General Operations Force (GOF) Security Post, Datuk Victor Sanjos discussed ESSCOM's commitment to providing a peaceful and safe environment for voters to exercise their civic duty without fear.

The commander highlighted ESSCOM's readiness to deploy personnel to specific locations as soon as the State Legislative Assembly is dissolved, aiming to prevent any negative elements or threats during this critical period. He also urged media and researchers to use the term "Eastern Sabah Safety Zone" (Zon Selamat Sabah Timur) to accurately describe the region, which includes land, sea, and air domains.

The Eastern Sabah Safety Zone encompasses 10 districts: Kudat, Pitas, Kota Marudu, Beluran, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna, and Tawau, ensuring comprehensive security coverage across the region.