Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu said criminal activities and kidnapping cases were assumed as increasing by some quarters due to the wide media coverage given to any such incident.

“Kidnapping incidents there have dropped following actions taken by the three countries, namely Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, in curbing kidnapping and terror activities in the area.

“Once in a while, there could be such an incident but we will tackle it.”

Mohamad said this after the handing-over of a people-friendly project and launching of the Kota Raja parliamentary constituency-level “Sayangi Klinik Ku” (Love My Clinic) programme here today.

The minister was asked to comment on a local press report today on the activities of a kidnapping group from the southern Philippines, believed to be aided by local residents, thus making it easy for the group to commit cross-border crimes.

Mohamad also said that the government was currently carrying out a restructuring of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) to ensure it could play a better role in future.

“We will discuss at the ministerial level the issue of increasing the manpower for ESSCom.

“However, it is even more important to upgrade all the equipment used from time to time,” he said.

On Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s term as prime minister, Mohamed, who is also Amanah president, said his party would always abide by all the decisions made by Pakatan Harapan (PH).

“Anything on this matter (Mahathir’s tenure as prime minister) will be discussed within PH. PH’s stand is Amanah’s stand, too,” he said.

Earlier, Mohamad who is also the Kota Raja MP, handed over contributions, comprising chairs, tables, canopies and playground equipment worth a total of RM1.8 million, to two health clinics, several primary and secondary schools, and five residents’ associations in the area.