Three Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) inspection centres will be operational in the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) area from Tuesday.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the three temporary offices created would be operational in Lahad Datu, Kudat and the Kerakit Integrated Immigration Command Post, Pulau Banggi.

"Twelve cabins will be used as temporary offices of which, six would be at the ICQS Lahad Datu, four in Kudat and two in Pulau Banggi. All the cabins have arrived at the locations on Thursday," he told a press conference whehn visiting the Lahad Datu ICQS site today.

Hishammuddin said 14 officers would be deployed temporarily at each ICQS and command post, which would also include the Intelligence and Enforcement units of the Malaysian Immigration Department.

"The initiative to create the ICQS and command posts was one of the measures to tighten up security control in the east coast of Sabah, besides facilitating entry to foreigners from the east coast waters possessing valid travel documents using the routes gazetted," he said.

He believed the implementation of Esscom, which would be monitored by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak as chairperson of the monitoring committee, Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman as chairperson of the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) and Esscom director Mohammad Mentek, represented an important component in ensuring the security of the state.

Hishammuddin also visited three Esscom cabins placed at the Region 4 Marine Police Operations Force Base in Lahad Datu.

- Bernama