KOTA KINABALU: Securing the waters off Sabah's vast coastline is no easy task, yet for the past 11 years, the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) has kept the threats at bay.
Set up after the 2013 Lahad Datu incursion, which left 10 security personnel and six civilians dead, Esscom has played a major role in ensuring the safety of Sabah and its people.
While there has not been another incursion, the threat of cross-border crimes still remains.
"In the past, the threats included piracy, robberies, looting and kidnappings for ransom," Esscom commander Datuk Victor Sanjos told the New Straits Times.
"Now the threats have taken on new forms, but they (the perpetrators) are still criminals, and we are determined to prevent anyone from threatening the country's sovereignty or breaking the law."
He said the threat of cross-border crime, which also included smuggling, would continue to persist as long as there were economic disparities and security issues in neighbouring countries.
Victor, who is from Keningau, took over as Esscom chief last July.
He said security threats were constantly evolving, but Esscom would do its best to stay one step ahead of criminals.
Esscom, he said, had already identified several measures to enhance security around Sabah's waters.
These include the use of the Sea Surveillance Radar System operated by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the installation of cameras on Pulau Ligitan that were capable of recording over great distances.
The acquisition of new assets like speedboats would also bolster patrolling capabilities, he said.
Esscom would set up new security posts in strategic locations along Sabah's coastline and deploy drones for more effective monitoring and detection.
However, it's not all about firepower.
Victor said Esscom was also looking at playing its part in improving the lives of communities in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone).
"We want to prevent foreign elements and cross-border criminal syndicates from using these areas as a staging point.
"By addressing socio-economic issues, we can address some underlying factors that contribute to criminal activities, such as poverty and lack of education," said Victor, who has a degree in economics.
To this end, Esscom has been actively involved in various socio-economic programmes with other government agencies.
They include skills training, community engagement and economic development aimed at empowering residents and providing them with sustainable livelihoods.
Victor said he believed these programmes could strengthen the bond between security forces and the public, who could then act as their "eyes and ears" on the ground.
He said a prosperous society would indirectly contribute to greater security in the ESSZone.