Malaysian Armed Forces Step up Security Control off Sabah East Coast

LAHAD DATU (Sabah, Malaysia) April 17 (Bernama) - The Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) has stepped up security control in waters off the Sabah east coast as Operation Daulat on land has slowed down. ATM Chief Gen Zulkifeli Mohd Zin said this is because the sea is the country's first line of defence against threats to national security and sovereignty. "Operation Daulat on land has slowed down but the tempo at sea has been stepped up," he told reporters while patrolling the sea accompanied by the media on board the vessel KD Terengganu on Tuesday. On Monday, Zulkifeli said that Operation Daulat will continue until supervision and monitoring was taken over by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom). The Royal Malaysian Navy will control security aided by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Marine Operations Force and the Royal Malaysian Air Force. "We will try to deploy more security assets to the area, whether bigger or faster vessels so that we can catch suspicious looking vessels," said Zulkifeli. The ATM would be equipped with more powerful vessels once Esscom starts operation, he added. -- BERNAMA