Sabah to lift barter trading ban with Philippines and Indonesia

KOTA KINABALU: A ban on barter trading activities in Sabah’s east coast has been lifted following a decision by the State Security Council to allow import and export activities in the area from next month.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the council at its meeting yesterday decided to allow ferry services between the northern Kudat town and Palawan in southern Philippines to begin on Feb 1.

He said the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex in Kudat would be open to facilitate the ferry services.

Musa said the standard operating procedures for the CIQ in Kudat had been finalised.

He said the resumption of transshipment activities would, however, be subject to the Fixed Operating Regulations governing the transshipment activities in Sabah’s Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) stretching from Kudat to Tawau.

Musa said the import and export of sea products between Sabah and Indonesia would also be allowed to resume but all activities had be carried out at designated jetties or landing points.

On the usage of pump boats, he said these would be allowed to be used by Malaysian citizens and stern action would be taken against foreigners caught using such vessels.

He said the State Security Council headed by him had also decided that all measures in strengthening security in the east coast must continue.

Musa said a large-scale deportation of illegal immigrants from southern Philippines arrested in Sabah would be carried out in late February.

He said the deportation would be carried out using the Royal Malaysian Navy vessels.

The state government imposed a ban on barter trading activities in Sabah’s east coast last April following a spate of abductions in the area.