A local fishermen's association here wants the government to take urgent measures to tighten security in the east coast of Sabah.

Persatuan Nelayan Negeri Sabah, Sandakan zone head, Shaiful Bahari Muin said despite the establishment of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom), undesirable elements still posed a considerable threat to the area.

"Cross-border crime such as the recent kidnapping incident here, showed how vulnerable the surroundings still are," he told Bernama here today.

He hoped the federal government would act quickly on the request by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman for the assets for ESSCom to be delivered quickly. In the incident at the Ocean King seafood restaurant on Thursday, four armed men abducted the restaurant manager (woman) and a customer from Sarawak.