Curfew in ESSZone won't be stopped – IGP

KOTA KINABALU: There are no plans or time frame to stop the dusk-to-dawn curfew along the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone), said Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.

Speaking to reporters during his working visit to the state capital yesterday, Khalid said the curfew was important to ensure the safety of the people along the east coast from threats such as kidnapping and cross border crimes.

"There is no time frame to stop the curfew. As long as there are threats (to the country and our people), we will continue with the curfew," he said at a press conference at the state police headquarters in Kepayan yesterday.

Also present were Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Ramli Din and Deputy Police Commissioner Datuk Razarudin Husain.

Khalid said the purpose of the curfew was to ensure the security and well-being of the people, especially those who used the waters along ESSZone.

The curfew is also aimed at preventing intrusion of terrorists who threaten the security of tourists visiting resort islands.

He said the curfew was also to facilitate enforcement and monitoring of boat movements to ensure the safety and to give confidence to chalet operators and fishermen with the presence of security forces' ships in their areas.

"We do not want them to be threatened by kidnappers and cross border criminals so the curfew is just some of the efforts taken to ensure the safety of the people so that they can lead a smooth daily life.

"I have also gone to Manila (the Philippines) twice this year with (Malaysia Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri) Anifah Aman for the (Malaysia-Philippines-Indonesia) trilateral meeting where we discussed security issues such as kidnapping, piracy, smuggling activities and cross border crimes between the three countries," he said, adding that among the discussions were cooperation on intelligence sharing and joint patrol operation.

The 15-day curfew was first imposed on July 19, 2014 at six coastal areas and water borders of ESSZone district, covering about 121,272 square miles or 194,035 kilometres from Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Semporna, Kunak to Tawau.

The latest curfew, the 71st, will end at 6am on August 26.