KOTA KINABALU: The use of pump boats on the east coast of Sabah will be considered following a series of kidnapping cases, including the latest involving three Indonesian fishermen in Lahad Datu.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah said they would discuss the matter with other security agencies before making any suggestion to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
He said he had earlier contacted Mohd Shafie who had also asked the police to study the feasibility of using pump boats.
“We will get feedback and proposals from other agencies and study the effectiveness of using such boats,” he told a press conference at the Sabah police headquarters here.
Omar was commenting on the recent kidnapping of three fishermen by a kidnap-for-ransom group which used two pump boats.
"Based on initial investigations, the masked men pointed MK47s, two M16s and a gun at four victims who were on a boat fishing for prawns at the Tambisan waters.
"The suspects took their handphones, documents and cash before moving to another boat with three crew members, about 300 metres from the first boat,” he said, adding the suspects took the victims and headed to Philippine waters.
The three victims were Samiun Maniu, 27, Muhammas Farhan, 27, and Maharudin Lunani, 48.
To date, police have yet to receive any information on the case.