More personnel to beef up Sabah east coast control

PUTRAJAYA: The government will enhance Op Benteng implementation at the east coast of Sabah by increasing security forces personnel and assets, following increase in the number of Covid-19 cases due to influx of illegal immigrants in the state.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the special National Security Council (NSC) meeting on Covid-19 yesterday has agreed to further strengthen control in Sabah east coast areas such as in Tawau, Semporna and Lahad Datu.

The additional assets and personnel will involve the Malaysian Armed Forces, the Royal Malaysia Police and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

Ismail Sabri said the move was necessary as the east coast of Sabah is wide and covers a long stretch with several islands that could be used as the illegals' transit points.

“Those detained in Op Benteng, whether they are illegal immigrants or have travel documents, will still be quarantined for 14 days at the designated centres,” he told a press conference here, yesterday.

On the standard operating procedure (SOP) for ship crewmen, Ismail said crew members who signed on (commencing duty) are required to take the swab test.

“If it is negative, they would be quarantined for 14 days and if positive they would be sent to the hospital for treatment,” he said.

As for crewmen who have signed off (completed duty), he said if their ship is in Malaysian waters for more than 14 days, they would only need to undergo swab test without quarantine.

“However, they would be escorted from the ship to the airport to return to their respective countries,” he said.

Nonetheless, he said if the ship is on its way to another destination and had called at the ports of other countries before arriving in Malaysia, crewmen signing off, would be required to undergo the swab test as well as the 14-day quarantine.