Latest news with #Esscom
Daily Express
21-05-2025
- Daily Express
Kota Belud stopover for yacht event
Published on: Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Published on: Wed, May 21, 2025 Text Size: Joniston (left) chairing a Sail Malaysia coordination meeting attended by Esscom and key tourism stakeholders to ensure smooth operations and safety throughout the Sabah segment. Kota Kinabalu: Kota Belud, known as the Land of the Cowboys of the East, is making its debut as a stopover in this year's Sail Malaysia Passage to the East, offering a fresh perspective for sailors exploring rural charm and cultural depth. Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister cum Sabah Tourism Board Chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said Kota Belud's inclusion is a fitting addition to the rally as the district is known for its strong Bajau heritage, horse riding tradition and growing reputation in community-based tourism. The annual sailing rally, which began in April, will arrive in Sabah this July with over 31 yachts and 70 participants from 15 countries scheduled to explore coastal and inland attractions from July 18 to September 1. New participating countries include Lebanon, Turkey, Kuwait, Tunisia, and India, reflecting the growing global interest in Malaysia's sailing route and Sabah's diverse tourism offerings. Joniston, who serves as patron of Sail Malaysia Borneo, said the rally helps promote Sabah to international travellers and strengthens its position as a culture, adventure and nature destination. He added that the inclusion of new countries and destinations like Kota Belud is a promising sign as Sabah builds momentum toward Visit Malaysia Year 2026. Advertisement Sabah's growing popularity as a yachting destination is also supported by ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure, with several new berthing areas, including in Tuaran, being identified to cater to increasing interest from international sailors Joniston encouraged organisers to enhance collaboration with the Sabah Tourism Board to further promote the Sabah leg as a key highlight of the entire rally. Joniston recently chaired a Sail Malaysia coordination meeting attended by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) and key tourism stakeholders to ensure smooth operations and safety throughout the Sabah segment. Sail Malaysia Managing Director Sazli Kamal Basha said the rally follows the familiar eastern route starting in Langkawi, with Sabah stops including Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran, Kudat, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Kinabatangan, Sandakan, Tawau and Semporna. He noted that participants will also have the rare opportunity to sail inland along the Kinabatangan River, one of Sabah's most iconic wildlife corridors, known for its rich biodiversity and natural beauty. Sazli said many sailors are drawn to Sabah for its natural beauty, safe harbours and the warm welcome offered by local communities. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
08-05-2025
- Daily Express
25 illegals held at 19 famous resort islands in Semporna
Published on: Wednesday, April 09, 2014 Published on: Wed, Apr 09, 2014 Text Size: Semporna: Twenty-five illegal immigrants, including women and children, were nabbed during "Ops Gasak 4" at 19 famous resort islands here, Monday night. The one-day operation, with the cooperation of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), National Registration Department, Immigration Department, District Office and police was coordinated by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom).Esscom Director-General Datuk Mohammad Mentek Esscom said the operation would be continued at other resort islands and water villages. Those detained during the raids at Mabul, Kapalai, Pom-Pom and Mataking, including resort workers, aged between six and 52 years, would be referred to the immigration for further questioning."All of them are investigated under Immigration Act 1959/63 (Amended 2002). The resort operators will also be called in and if found employing illegal immigrants, they will have to face the music," he said the operation was a follow-up to Ops Gasak 1 to Ops Gasak 3 that was launched on Nov 24, involving several islands and water 15 illegal immigrants who worked at a resort have been arrested and are being investigated in connection with the abduction Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his Ministry was currently embarking on working closely with Esscom and the authorities in the Philippines in efforts to free the two abducted he declined to disclose details on the location and name of the resort that the 15 detained illegal immigrants worked. "As such, I advise resort operators and employers not to employ foreigners or individuals, who do not possess any valid personal identification documents as all sorts of problems will arise later. "The Ministry suspected these 15 illegal immigrants are informants to the group of abductors but all of them are being questioned to see if they are involved in the incident," he present was Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin. In the 10.30pm incident last Wednesday, a group of seven armed men intruded into the Singamata Adventures Reef and Resort and abducted two foreign women, Gao Hua Yuan, 29, from Shanghai and resort worker Filipina Marcy Dayawan, said the Esscom administration, together with the armed forces and police, played a vital role in ensuring the east coast of Sabah was free from any criminal activities but it would be difficult for the authorities to take action if the resort operators and employers protected those workers without any valid said the Ministry would take firm action against those employers found to have hired illegal immigrants under the Immigration Act 1959/ could also be prosecuted under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Amended 2010), he said. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Sabah records highest Malaysian Public Service Commission appointments in 2024
Published on: Tuesday, April 29, 2025 Published on: Tue, Apr 29, 2025 By: Patimang Abdul Ghani Text Size: Ahamad Jailani (center) and Jamaluddin when visiting the exhibition booth. KUDAT: The appointment of candidates to the Malaysian Public Service Commission (PSC) from Sabah recorded the highest number compared to other states in 2024, with 13.1 per cent or 2,866 individuals out of a total of 21,814 permanent and interim contract appointments. Chairman of PSC and the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (SPKP), Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Jailani Muhamed Yunus, said the number of applications also increased, with 173,025 in 2024 compared to 171,531 the previous year. He said this achievement is a manifestation of the Madani Government, which has shown significant results from programmes that engage with the people, such as career days and career tours. According to Ahmad Jailani, at the PSC level human capital development like this is one of the key components in lifting communities out of poverty. 'When we can provide job opportunities, they will have income and bring back ideas and perspectives on how to advance their communities. 'Especially if these communities or individuals become policy makers, or if they become heads of departments or senior officers. They will better understand the needs and desires of the communities from where they come,' he said at the Madani PSC Career Tour X Esscom X MYFutureJobs event at SMK Banggi. The programme, organised by PSC with Esscom, Perkeso, the Sabah Federal Secretary's Office, the Sabah Education Department and local district offices, ran for two days at Tun Mustapha Hall on Saturday and continued at SMK Banggi on Sunday. The event included PSC consultations on civil service recruitments, job suitability, application status checks and registration through the SPA9 system, along with MyFutureJobs initiatives. Ahmad Jailani said the event exceeded expectations with over 3,000 visitors and 37 participants from various ministries, departments, agencies and private employers. He congratulated the success of this collaborative programme, which aims to provide clarification, information and identify the best talents, particularly in rural areas. 'I am confident that through this collaboration, especially with Esscom, we can make the programme more efficient and cost-effective and better achieve our goals,' he said. He also said three PSC interview centres in Sabah are insufficient considering the size, distance and population distribution in the State. Currently, interview centres are only located in Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau, and the distance is considered too far for residents of other districts like Kudat to attend interviews or access information related to PSC. 'In line with this, in our plans for PSC this year and in the coming years, we intend to open more interview centres, and this is under consideration as it involves high costs, staffing and so on,' he added. Also present were Esscom Chief Executive Officer Datuk Dr Jamaluddin Mohd Ali, Sabah Education Director Datuk Raisin Saidin, Perkeso Sabah Deputy Director Salwati Abdul Karim and District Officer Charles William Dabbi. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Kampung Inderasabah gets RM1 million under adoption initiative
Published on: Wednesday, April 23, 2025 Published on: Wed, Apr 23, 2025 By: Amir Anuar Text Size: Nizam (left) and Dr Jamaluddin at the press conference. TAWAU: The Federal Ministry of Finance has approved an allocation of RM1 million to the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) for the implementation of the Kampung Angkat Madani initiative this year. The approval was welcomed by Kampung Inderasabah residents, the only settlement in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) selected for the programme. Esscom Chief Executive Officer Datuk Dr Jamaluddin Mohd Ali said the primary focus is on improving infrastructure and the wellbeing of the community. 'Among the initiatives already identified are installing lighting in dimly lit roads, upgrading the jetty and enhancing security measures in Inderasabah,' he said. He said this after co-chairing the Mesyuarat Penyelarasan Program Kampung Angkat Madani Esscom with Apas Assemblyman Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan at the Tawau Municipal Council, here, Tuesday. Jamaluddin said six villages in Sabah were selected as Kampung Angkat Madani, but Inderasabah is the only one chosen in the Esszone as it meets the specified criteria. 'If this programme proves successful in Inderasabah, we may expand a similar model to other areas in Esszone, such as Kudat, Sandakan, Beluran, or Semporna,' he added. When asked about the selection criteria for Inderasabah, he said the village is exposed to cross-border criminal activities such as fuel smuggling and sea robberies. The selection also considered the village's geographical proximity to Indonesian and the Philippine waters, as well as the strong unity among its residents. 'Additionally, an extra allocation of RM200,000 has been set aside for programmes under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector. 'We have also selected SK Lihak-Lihak in Semporna as a Sekolah Angkat Madani with an allocation of RM100,000 following discussions with the State Education Department,' he said. On security matters, Deputy Tawau District Police Chief Supt Champin Piuh said the situation in Inderasabah is under control, with only three isolated crime cases recorded. 'In terms of security, we have a General Operations Force checkpoint in Inderasabah, along with maritime surveillance by the marine police,' he said. Meanwhile, Nizam, who is also Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, expressed gratitude that the village under his constituency was chosen for the programme. 'I am confident this programme will bring significant impact and add value, particularly in social activities related to improving the residents' economy and border security,' he said. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
