Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman said the curfew extension which has entered its fourth phase was needed to prevent intrusion and kidnapping as well as attempts to threaten the safety of fishermen.
He said it was also aimed to prevent smuggling of fuel, taxable items and drugs, to support the tourism and cage fish operators, to build tourist confidence and to facilitate the authorities in carrying out their duties.
Speaking to reporters at the state police contingent headquarters in Kepayan here yesterday, Jalaluddin said the curfew which was first enforced in July in the waters off ESSZONE districts had succeeded in restoring confidence and curbing human trafficking activities.
The curfew, he said had reduced illegal entry by almost 80 per cent.
Under the law, the Police Commissioner has the power to declare curfew for one day, while the Home Minister could declare curfew for 14 days.
Jalaluddin said during the phase III curfew which ended on Tuesday, 92 arrests were made involving 23 cases for breaking the curfew under Section 31 (2) of the Police Act 1967 and 12 cases under Section 6(1) of the Immigration Act.
Twenty people had been convicted and imprisoned while the remaining suspects were still held under remand. Sixteen others were released.
Under Phase I, curfew was imposed in eastern Sabah waters from Tg Pundaras, Sandakan to the Tawau jetty from 6pm to 6am, following an armed group attack on two marine policemen in Pulau Mabul, Semporna on July 12.
Following that, Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) commander Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun announced a phase II curfew from August 3 to 18.
Jalaluddin later announced the curfew was extended from August 19 to September 2, from 7pm to 5am.
The curfew covers the waters, three nautical miles from the shore of Sandakan to Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Semporna to the Tawau jetty over a distance of 362 nautical miles and encompassing an area of 121,270 sq nautical miles.
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