Curfew in Sabah’s Esszone extended to Dec 11

The Phase 31 curfew in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) which was supposed to end at 5am today, has been extended to Dec 11 (7pm-5am).

Sabah police commissioner, Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman said the decision to extend the curfew was to ensure the safety and welfare of Sabahans in the Esszone.

"It (curfew) is enforced to control the movement of boats. The presence of security forces will provide confidence to the chalet operators and the fishermen," he said in a statement in Kota Kinabalu today.

The Esszone covers the districts of Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Beluran.

Jalaluddin said the curfew extension was to protect Sabah from intrusion by terrorists who posed a threat to the safety of researchers and tourists visiting the resort islands.

Police received information that southern Philippine terrorists and the Abu Sayyaf group were trying to sneak into Sabah to commit kidnapping and other transborder crime.

All district police chiefs in the Esszone have been authorised to issue permits to fishermen and during emergency cases.

- Bernama