Boat Owners In Eastern Sabah Have To Inform ESSCom Of Movement Of Vessels

LAHAD DATU - Owners of boats operating off the east coast of Sabah have to inform the operation centre of the Eastern Sabah Security Command of the movement of their vessels.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun said this was to facilitate ESSCom in conducting surveillance in the area.

"I ask for cooperation from the boat owners so that the security forces can monitor the movement of boats and facilitate the surveillance in the area to ensure smooth operation of boats," he told a press conference here Tuesday.

He said ESSCom Commander Datuk Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Kadir had already met with several boat operators to convey the safety measure which was necessary following several abduction cases in the state's waters.

The most recent abduction occurred on July 10 when three Indonesian crew of a tugboat were kidnapped by the Kidnap for Ransom group.

Five Malaysian sailors are believed to have been kidnapped on Monday after an empty tugboat with its motor running was found abandoned in the waters of Dent Haven, Tambisan, near here.

-- BERNAMA