Although Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein had said that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak will be announcing the details of a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to probe the Lahad Datu intrusion today, the nation’s top leader did not do so.

bn youths pc khairy racial remarks 031006 hishamuddin hussein When asked on whether the RCI has been postponed to a later date, Hishammuddin ( right ) refuted the claim, saying that the utmost priority of the government is to ensure the safety of Sabah.

“No... we can consider both options of an RCI and (a) white paper or find other mechanisms to ensure that the truth prevails.

“But at the same time, the main thing is to make Sabah safe... not only the people of Lahad Datu and Semporna, but the whole Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom),” he told a press conference at the Police Training Centre in Kuala Lumpur today.

Last Saturday, Hishammuddin said that Najib will announce the formation of the RCI in conjunction with the 206th Police Day celebrations today.

Instead, Najib only declared the establishment of the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (Esszone) covering 10 districts to provide the legal basis for the Esscom effective today. 

The districts are Kudat, Kota Marudu, Pitas, Beluran, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau.

These districts will be administered by an Esszone Committee, helmed by Sabah chief minister as chairperson, while its headquarters will be in Lahad Datu.

Najib today had also announced the relocation of residents from areas deemed vulnerable to foreign infiltration.

This, he said, will be done as security forces continue to try to root out the Sulu invaders and could be expanded to include the entire state.

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