Sabah extends ESSZone curfew until January 9

The Eastern Sabah Security Zone’s curfew has been extended from Christmas Day to January 9 next year. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, December 24, 2014.

The dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed in the Sabah east coast in July and extended every two weeks has been extended yet again, to January 9, 2015.

Sabah police commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman said today the latest extension of the 7pm to 5am curfew in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) was from Christmas Day to January 9 next year.

He said the curfew had been extended to ensure the security and wellbeing of fishermen, tourists and other people who used the waters off the coast of six districts, namely Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau.

"It was also aimed at facilitating monitoring and curbing cross-border trafficking of people, drugs and firearms," he said in a statement.

The curfew was imposed on July 19 following several cases of kidnapping of locals and tourists by foreign intruders who had come by sea.

Jalaluddin said the extension of the curfew had the support of chalet operators and fishermen.

All district police chiefs in the ESSZone had the authority to issue permits for pressing fishing or other marine activities, he said. – Bernama