Sabah extends curfew anew

 ‘Sayyafs attempting to cross border’

SABAH HAS extended anew its curfew at sea following intelligence reports that Abu Sayyaf terrorists and kidnap-for-ransom groups from southern Philippines are attempting to intrude into the Malaysian state, according to the news site The Star Online.

It said the ongoing dusk-to-dawn sea curfew, which ended on Tuesday, December 6, has been extended for another 14 days. The curfew, which was extended for the 200th time under Section 31(4) of the Police Act 1967, was first implemented on July 16, 2014.

The curfew was enforced following a spate of ransom kidnappings that saw the beheading of Sarawakian Bernard Then Ted Fen and the killing of several others, including a policeman and tourists.

Sabah police Commissioner Datuk Idris Abdullah said the curfew covers areas up to three nautical miles off Sandakan, Beluran, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau. He said the extension of the curfew was needed due to existing threats from cross-border criminals including from kidnap-for-ransom groups.

“Our intelligence sources found that KFR groups as well as the Abu Sayyaf group were still attempting to enter the country’s waters and carry out kidnapping activities as well as other cross-border crimes,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

 “The curfew will allow security forces to look after the safety of people who travel at sea and those living in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone. It will also allow us to enforce and monitor the movement of vessels as well as create a sense of security and confidence among chalet operators and fishermen through the omnipresence of security vessels enforcing this curfew,” Idris was quoted as saying in the report.

He said the curfew was necessary to ensure terrorists or criminals from southern Philippines do not intrude into Malaysian waters and subsequently ensure the safety of international researchers or foreign tourists visiting islands in Sabah.

Idris said he had also given the authority to the respective district police chiefs to issue permits to any applicant who fulfils the necessary requirements to conduct fishing activities or to ply through the water routes in the curfew areas.

The residents in areas covered by the curfew are required to stay at home from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. while outsiders are not allowed to enter the curfew zones.

There were no immediate reactions from the Philippine military and police authorities over the reports that the Abu Sayyaf and other kidnap gangs are attempting to cross the border and target Malaysian citizens. (Mindanao Examiner)