Security on east coast under control – Masidi
KOTA KINABALU: With a duskto-dawn sea curfew in place and round-the-clock surveillance, the security situation on the east coast of Sabah remains tight and under control.
The assurance was given by State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun and the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) yesterday in the wake of a travel advisory issued by the UK government recently.
Met by reporters at the State Gerakan Chinese New Year open house here yesterday, Masidi advised people not to act hastily over the travel alert, adding it was the British government's prerogative to issue such notice.
"They have done the same in the past and we have to manage this with wisdom and patience.
"I do believe that Sabah (east coast) is safe with the sea curfew in place and round-the-clock surveillance.
"The fact that all the island resorts are packed with tourists is a clear indication of tourists' confidence in the security situation on the east coast of Sabah," he said.
Meanwhile, ESSCom Commander Datuk Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid said towards this end no untoward incident has been reported to ESSCom.
He said security forces had remained intact at strategic locations along the east coast area.
"As far as ESSCom is concerned, security at the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (ESSZone) is under control.
"There are no imminent threats that can jeopardise the state's security and safety of the people," said Wan Abdul Bari.
He added that the popular tourist spots were still being frequented by tourists as they put their trust in the security forces and were aware of the situation.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) yesterday issued a travel advise against all but essential travel to all islands off the coast of eastern Sabah from Kudat to Tawau, including (but not limited to) Lankayan, Mabul, Pom Pom, Kapalai, Litigan, Sipadan and Mataking.
"There is a high threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners," stated the advisory (www. gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ malaysia).
The FCO has also raised the terror alert for Sabah's east coast from general to high.