KOTA KINABALU: A bigger threat looms in the east coast of Sabah after militant groups from southern Philippines declared its support to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
Defence minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the threat is worse than those posed by kidnappers and smugglers.
"Armed groups such as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and Abu Sayyaf had openly supported the ISIS struggles.
"The MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) led by fugitive Nur Misuari, Abu Sayyaf and Sulu Sultanate had also declared it fight to form an Islamic region using the ISIS model to claim Sabah and would be a threat to the region including the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei and even Sarawak."
For this Hishammuddin said the authorities has been working closely with other countries to gather as much information possible to counter such threats.
Hishammuddin who is also Umno Vice president said this after declaring open the Penampang Umno divisional meeting here.