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Thursday, September 13, 2018

Curfew off Sabah's east coast extended to thwart Filipino kidnappers?

KOTA KINABALU - Security forces extended the dusk-to-dawn curfew in waters off Sabah's east coast for another two weeks from Thursday (Sept 13) to Sept 28.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah said that the curfew extension was necessary due to the continuing threat of kidnap-for-ransom groups and other criminals from neighbouring Philippines.

The latest extension comes two days after two Indonesian crew members of a fishing trawler were kidnapped at gunpoint from their boat in waters near Pulau Gaya in Semporna on Tuesday (Sept 11).

Their whereabouts are still unclear though the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) has asked its Philippines counterparts to assist in tracking down the abductors and the victims.

The latest kidnapping in Semporna waters broke a lull in cross-border kidnappings since December 2016. Security forces had thwarted an attempt with a firefight that left at least three suspected kidnappers dead with two captured in Semporna.

In a statement Thursday, Omar said that the 6pm to 6am curfew covers areas up to three nautical miles off Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Beluran.

He said that there was a need to continue the curfew in these waters to prevent the encroachment of terrorists and criminals who can threaten the safety of locals, international researchers and tourists on islands.

Omar said according to intelligence, kidnap-for-ransom groups and Abu Sayyaf militants are still trying to commit cross-border crimes.

“We also want to ensure the safety of the people of Sabah who use the waters and are staying near the Esszone (Eastern Sabah Security Zone),” he said.

The curfew was to facilitate enforcement and monitoring of boat activities in the area as well as establish a sense of security among nearby chalet owners and fishermen through the presence of a security team.

All district police chiefs have been authorised to issue permits to any eligible applicants who fit the criteria to conduct fishing activities in the areas affected by the curfew.

The curfew came into place on July 19, 2014 following a series of kidnappings that saw the beheading of Sarawakian Bernard Then Ted Fed and the killing of several others, including a policeman and tourists in the east coast.

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