See You Soon

SHAH ALAM: See you soon. Since May this year as part of the government response to the pandemic, the National Task Force (NTF) was set up to coordinate operations dubbed Op Benteng to protect the nation’s border from intrusions from human smugglers to drug traffickers.

All of the security agencies including police, military and APMM are part of the task force with even the customs had been roped into the mix. Anyhow as part of the Op Benteng, agencies involved with the task force have been given clearance to procure new assets to boost their operational capabilities. Despite the urgent operational requirements, the results have been patchy so far with some agencies getting theirs sooner than others.

For example, Bernama reports that ESSCOM will be getting scramblers and all terrain vehicles soon.

KALABAKAN, Nov 18 — The Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) is in the process of acquiring additional logistical assets, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and scrambler motorcycles to strengthen patrols and security teams at the country’s borders.

ESSCom chief executive officer Dr Jamaluddin Mohd Ali said the request for additional ground assets was made through the Home Ministry and has been approved.

“The request has been approved by the government through leasing and we are waiting for the additional ground assets to arrive at any moment.

“We requested 18 ATV units and 10 scrambler motorcycles for the use of security teams at the district’s borders as the area is hilly and covered with thick forests,” he said.

He said this to reporters during an inspection to the country’s borders between Serudong, Kalabakan, Sabah and Simanggaris, North Kalimantan, Indonesia, which is the suggested area for the building of a security command post, yesterday.

The MMEA as we know already got their FICs and it is likely that the RMN will also get their FIC later this year as well, together with their multi-purpose boats.

The Army is also getting a number of scramblers and ATVs, purchased not leased soon, though I am not sure of their makes also courtesy of the Op Benteng UOR. RMAF meanwhile had taken delivery of three Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) which had been installed on one of the EC-725 with No. 10 Squadron.

It is likely most of the items purchased for Op Benteng – by agencies in defence and home ministries – are likely to be paid by both the 2020 and 2021 budget allocation.

— Malaysian Defence

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