KOTA KINABALU, Strategic cooperation between the Sabah and federal governments through the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) is important to guarantee security in the state, especially in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESS Zone), said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. In this regard, he said precise coordination between the state government and KDN through all agencies under it such as the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) is always mobilised to deal with security issues in Sabah in particular and in Malaysia in general. "Strategic cooperation between the state and federal governments through KDN is also very important to ensure Sabah's economic development planning can be implemented successfully," he said in a statement today. Earlier he and Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail co-chaired the ESS Zone Joint Committee Meeting Number 1, Year 2024 at Menara Kinabalu here today. Hajiji and Saifuddin Nasution also attended the Sabah Foreign Nationals Management Main Committee Meeting (JKPWAS-INDUK) No. 1, Year 2024 at Menara Kinabalu. Hajiji said the state government is committed to ensuring that the security situation at the maritime border covering the archipelago, coastal and river areas as well as the land border especially in the ESSZone is in good condition and under control. "This is because the large maritime area in Sabah is a contributor to the generation of economic prosperity for the country of Malaysia and as a maritime region it is inseparable from security threats and criminal activities across borders," he said. He said proactive and strategic measures will continue to be implemented to preserve sovereignty, prevent and eradicate security threats from continuing to occur in the future. "In line with the empowerment of Sabah Maju Jaya, I support initiatives to improve infrastructure, assets, human resources and the needs of security, enforcement and defence agencies to ensure the level of accessibility and preparedness is at the highest level," he said. Source: BERNAM A News Agency