Malaysia’s Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) was formed in 2013 in direct response to escalating security threats in eastern Sabah, particularly in the Sulu and Sulawesi Seas. The turning point came with the 2013 Lahad Datu standoff, when armed militants from the southern Philippines infiltrated Sabah.
The region’s rich natural resources and strategic location have long made it a hotspot for transnational crimes – piracy, human and drug trafficking, smuggling, and kidnappings.
Since then, Esscom has notched significant successes but also faced challenges that test its effectiveness.
One major success is its ability to streamline and coordinate security operations across multiple agencies. Before Esscom, security efforts in eastern Sabah lacked alignment and coordination. By uniting the Royal Malaysia Police, Malaysian Armed Forces, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, and other relevant bodies under a single command structure, Esscom improved communication, resource allocation, and operational efficiency – allowing faster, more robust responses to threats.
Esscom’s two main missions are clear: Prevent a repeat of the Lahad Datu incident and ensure zero kidnappings for ransom in the Eastern Sabah Security (ESS) Zone. The waters around Sipadan and Ligitan were once notorious for kidnappings by militant groups like Abu Sayyaf. Enhanced patrols and intelligence work have made such operations more difficult. The last recorded kidnapping in the ESS Zone was on Jan 15, 2020 – a landmark achievement.
A centralised intelligence hub now facilitates timely information sharing, enabling pre-emptive action against militant cells. International cooperation has also strengthened, especially under the Trilateral Cooperative Arrangement between Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Esscom has invested in community engagement to build trust and gather intelligence, running grassroots initiatives like “Safe Eastern Sabah” to encourage vigilance and reporting. Village-level programmes and NGO partnerships have improved Esscom’s ‘soft skills’ with local communities – relationships that must be sustained.
Operational capabilities have also been boosted through new forward operating bases, surveillance systems, and communication networks. The ESS Zone designation has further reinforced security by prioritising high-surveillance areas.
Challenges facing Esscom
Despite these gains, Esscom faces ongoing obstacles. The geography of eastern Sabah – vast coastlines, remote islands, and dense forests – demands substantial resources to patrol and monitor.
Maintaining a constant presence strains personnel, equipment, and funding. Sponsorships from private companies under corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes could help ease the load.
Cross-border threats remain persistent. Groups like Abu Sayyaf operate from the southern Philippines, exploiting the porous maritime borders. Past incidents show terrorist-linked individuals moving between the two regions.
Esscom’s operations are resource-intensive, but budget constraints have sometimes hindered its capacity. Limited funds delay infrastructure, restrict equipment purchases, and stretch personnel thin. Commander Datuk Victor Sanjos has called for greater budget allocations, including high-tech vessels to counter terrorist threats. Plans are also underway to replace the Forward Operating Base Tun Sharifah Roodziah with a more dynamic, Royal Malaysian Navy-managed facility.
Militant groups have adapted tactics – shifting to less-patrolled areas, using faster boats, and employing advanced communications to evade detection. Esscom must continually update its strategies to keep pace.
While community engagement has improved, maintaining public trust is still a challenge. Some residents worry about movement restrictions and economic impacts. Yet these measures have helped suppress crime. Balancing security with daily life will be key to sustaining cooperation.
Esscom is a critical pillar of Malaysia’s eastern security strategy, reducing kidnappings and piracy, improving intelligence sharing, and strengthening community ties. But logistical constraints, cross-border threats, limited resources, evolving militant tactics, and public perception issues continue to test its resilience.
In the complex security landscape of eastern Sabah, Esscom’s mission remains essential – safeguarding the region and contributing to broader regional stability.
Jasminder Singh is an Associate Research Fellow with the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR) at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore.
The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the writer and do not necessarily represent that of Twentytwo13.