KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry periodically updates the "designated entities list," classifying certain individuals or groups as terrorist entities, including the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and the Sulu Sultanate heirs.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said it is a preventive measure primarily to stop financial flow to these terrorist groups.
"In the context of prevention, particularly in halting the financial flow to terrorist groups, the ministry continuously updates the designated entity list, which classifies individuals or groups as terrorists.
"The ASG and an individual claiming to be an heir to the Sulu Sultanate are also included on this list. This is a preventive measure, primarily to stop the financial flow to these terrorist groups.
"Listing these two entities allows for the blocking of any financial activities, which can prevent these entities from continuing terrorism activities, including kidnappings and robberies," he said in the Dewan Rakyat.
He also assured that the security situation on the East Coast of Sabah is safe and under control, in line with the presence of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), which is tasked with curbing the second wave of intrusions by foreign elements who refer to themselves as the Royal Security Force (RSF).
"Esscom is also tasked with preventing those claiming to be heirs of the Sulu Sultanate from the Philippines, as well as preventing militant infiltration by groups like ASG and groups with a kidnapping-for-ransom (KFR) modus operandi," he said.
In this regard, one of the main security initiatives carried out by Esscom in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone is Ops Sanggah.
"This operation is implemented by coordinating and strengthening existing operations under the police, the armed forces, and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency," he said.
He added that Esscom has also increased the number of its own operations, including special integrated operations, the Gasak sea and land operations, and land checkpoint operations, among others.
Shamsul was responding to a question from Datuk Siti Aminah Aching (BN-Beaufort) about efforts to control the threat of kidnapping and piracy activities in the waters off the East Coast of Sabah.