KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s ongoing dusk-to-dawn sea curfew, which ended on Thursday (Aug 3), has been extended for another 14 days to Aug 18.
The curfew, which was extended for the 216th time under Section 31(4) of the Police Act 1967, was first implemented on July 16, 2014.
Under the curfew, residents in areas covered by the rule are required to stay at home from 6pm to 6am while outsiders are not allowed to enter the curfew zones.
Sabah Police Commissioner Comm Datuk Jauteh Dikun noted that the curfew covers areas up to three nautical miles off the east coast districts of Sandakan, Beluran, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau.
The extension of the curfew was necessary, he said, due to existing threats from cross-border criminals including from kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) groups.
He added that the curfew was required to ensure terrorists or criminals from the southern Philippines do not intrude into Malaysian waters and to subsequently oversee the safety of international researchers or tourists visiting islands in Sabah.
“According to our intelligence sources, 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 Friday (Aug 4).
“The curfew will also allow security forces to look after the safety of Sabahans and others who travel at sea and those living on land in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone).
“Besides that, it will enable us to enforce the law and monitor the movement of vessels as well as create a sense of security and confidence among chalet operators and fishermen through the presence of security vessels implementing this curfew,” Comm Jauteh said.
He said he had also given the authority to the respective district police chiefs to issue permits to any applicants, who meet the necessary requirements to conduct fishing activities or to ply the water routes in curfew areas.
The curfew was enforced following a spate of kidnappings that saw the beheading of Sarawakian Bernard Then Ted Fen and the killing of several others, including a policeman and tourists.
