'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. '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). '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 Saturday (May 20). He added the curfew was required in order to ensure terrorists or criminals from the southern Philippines did not intrude into Malaysian waters and subsequently oversee the safety of international researchers or foreign tourists visiting islands in Sabah. The extension of the curfew was necessary, he said, due to the existing threats from cross-border criminals including from kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) groups. Sabah police commissioner Comm Datuk Jauteh Dikun said 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.

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.

The curfew, which was extended for the 211th time under Section 31(4) of the Police Act 1967, was first implemented on July 16, 2014. KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s ongoing dusk-to-dawn sea curfew, which will end on Saturday (May 20), has been extended for another 14 days to June 4.

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