Commando team to be deployed to counter Abu Sayyaf threat

 

Hazani Ghazali says despite there being no kidnapping cases off the east coast of Sabah for two years, security remains tight in the area. (Bernama pic)

PASIR MAS: The security level in Sabah’s east coast will be raised and a commando team from the Special Action Unit (UTK) will be sent there to tackle issues involving the Abu Sayyaf militant group.

Bukit Aman internal security and public order department director Hazani Ghazali said this was to demonstrate the presence of security forces in the area, including the Sabah-Kalimantan border.

“Although two years have passed without any kidnapping case, particularly in Sabah’s east coast, we are still enforcing tight security in the area.

“This is also following information that Abu Sayyaf sub-leader and bombmaker Mudzrimar alias Mundi Sawadjaan is confirmed to still be alive. That is why security will be tightened and our forces will be working with the Western Mindanao Command (J2 Westmincom) on the matter,” he said after a police community event at the district police headquarters here today.

Hazani said Mudzrimar had been wanted by the Philippines for involvement in a series of encounters and clashes with security forces since July last year.

Based on intelligence information received, Mudzrimar was last seen on Jan 10 in Sulu while going out to get food.

On border control at the Malaysia-Thailand border, Hazani said a mounted horse team from the Federal Reserve Unit would be stationed in Kelantan from March for patrolling in areas notorious for smuggling activities.

“We are looking for a suitable place like Pengkalan Kubor, Tumpat or Rantau Panjang to locate the mounted horse team, which can help tighten security and tackle smuggling activities along Sungai Golok,” he added. - FMT