ZAMBOANGA CITY – Due to persistent threats posed by the Abu Sayyaf, Sabah has extended its sea curfew covering three nautical miles off Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Beluran – all near the border of Tawi-Tawi’s chain of islands in southern Philippines.
Malaysian media reported that the Sabah’s dusk-to-dawn sea curfew has been extended by yet another two weeks to September 13.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Ramli Din as saying that the decision to extend the curfew - first imposed four years ago - was made based on continuous threats from cross-border criminals, including from kidnap-for-ransom groups and the Abu Sayyaf.
Ramli said police intelligence indicated that kidnap-for-ransom groups and Abu Sayyaf militants were still trying to commit cross-border crimes. “There is 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,” the Star Online quoted the official as saying.
He said: “We also want to ensure the safety of the people of Sabah who use the waters and are staying near the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone.
Ramli added that the curfew was to facilitate enforcement and monitoring of boat activities in the area, as well as to establish a sense of security for nearby chalet owners and fishermen through the presence of a security team.
The curfew was implemented on July 19, 2014, following a series of kidnappings which saw the beheading of Sarawakian Bernard Then Ted Fed and the killing of several others, including a policeman and tourists, according to the reports.
Just last month, a group of gunmen attempted to abduct crew members of a tugboat in Sabah. At least 10 armed men were involved in the failed abduction near Lahad Datu’s Tambisan area after crew members locked themselves in a room. It said the armed men, believed from the southern Philippines, managed to sneak into Sabah and boarded the tug boat on the evening of August 9.
Crew members quickly radioed for help and patrolling members of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) responded immediately and forced the gunmen to escape. Esscom commander Datuk Hazani Ghazali said the crewmen were ferrying palm oil from Felda Sabahat in Tengku and on their way to Kuantan when the gunmen on motorboat came alongside their boat in Tambisan waters near the Tawi-Tawi chain of islands.
Malaysia and Indonesia have a border patrol agreement with the Philippines and share regular intelligence and conduct trilateral maritime patrols to prevent piracy and terrorism, including ransom kidnappings of sailors in the maritime borders. The military previously said that security is tight in the border to prevent Abu Sayyaf kidnappings inside Sabah or in the waters of Tawi-Tawi which is frequented by cargo boats. The Abu Sayyaf is still holding several foreign hostages in the restive southern region. (Mindanao Examiner)
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