KOTA KINABALU - Sabah Police announced on Sunday the extension of a sea curfew along the eastern seaboard amidst fears for the safe return of a Navy combat boat, CB 204, which went missing yesterday in rough weather some 20 nautical miles east of Mengalum Island off Sabah.
Navy chief Abdul Aziz Jaafar said, in a statement here, that vessels from the Air Force and Malaysian Maritime Agency are involved in search and rescue operations.
The 7 pm to 5 am sea curfew, in place since July 19, will be extended further from Oct 6 to Oct 21, according to Sabah Police Commissioner Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman.
“Besides cross-border kidnappings, there’s a need to keep continued watch on smuggling and other criminal activities, while safeguarding the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone),” he said in a statement. “The extension was necessary based on intelligence reports.”
“The situation is under control, our manpower and logistics are in place but we remain on high alert against any possible threats.”
He denied that resort operators and fish farmers along the eastern seaboard were unhappy with the continued extension of the sea curfew. In fact, they are happy because they feel a lot safer now, he claimed.
Jalaluddin disclosed that he and other police chiefs toured tourist destinations and caged fish farms in Mabul, Sipadan, Kapalai and other islands along the east coast last week.
“The operators in fact requested the sea curfew to be implemented but from time to time to ensure security in Sabah waters,” said Jalaluddin.
Nevertheless, he called upon all stakeholders to continue supporting the security forces and the authorities and manage as best as they could with the imposition of the sea curfew.
Those violating the sea curfew could be liable to a jail term of up to six months or a fine of up to RM500.
The curfew covers Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Semporna, Kunak and Tawau.
By John Joseph
No comments:
Post a Comment