KOTA KINABALU: The Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) has been on high alert, even before news broke today that eight suspected Abu Sayyaf militants were recently arrested in Kuala Lumpur.
Esscom commander Datuk Hazani Ghazali said that the agency is in the midst of investigating whether there are remnants of the terror group fleeing the southern Philippines and attempting to enter Sabah, or if they are already in the state.
“(So far), there has been no infiltration (by individuals) with militancy elements.
"We have good links with our Philippine counterparts and we are constantly exchanging information, including on Abu Sayyaf movements,” he told Berita Harian.
It was reported that eight people – two Filipinos and six Sabahans of Filipino descent – were nabbed in a special operation in Cheras on Aug 30.
Among those arrested is one of Abu Sayyaf’s leaders, Hajar Abdul Mubin or ‘Abu Asrie’, who is said to also be a member of the Jolo-based Lucky 9 kidnap-for-ransom group.
It was also reported that the six Malaysians are believed to be from Sandakan, but worked in Kuala Lumpur as security guards and Rela members.
Meanwhile, Sabah police commissioner Datuk Ramli Din said that state police were not informed of the arrests, nor did they receive any report of Sabahans being suspected of having links to Abu Sayyaf.