SANDAKAN: A speed boat with 19 people on board was intercepted during curfew in waters off here last night.
The boat was heading here from Taganak island in the Philippines when it was stopped by a team from the armed force at about 8.50pm.
Commanding officer of the Tun Azizan Auxillary Ship, Commander Mohamad Hafiz Faisal, said the boat was detected as it was headed here.
“We dispatched our Quick Reaction Force using a Viper 9 and managed to intercept the speed boat in Malaysian waters about 15km southwest off Taganak island,” he said.
“There were 19 people on board and all of them had no tvalid travel documents. They were from Jolo island, Philippines, Hafiz said adding all were handed over to the Eastern Sabah Security Command for further action.
The speedboat powered with a 90 horse power outboard engine was also seized.
The armed forces Joint Task Force 2 Brigadier General Zarondin Md Amin said the armed forces will not hestitate to take any action against anyone who disregard the laws of the country.
“This is to ensure the social and economic stability of the east coast of Sabah,” he stressed in a statement.
Ends.
keywords - intercepted, speed boat, curfew, Taganak island, armed forces, Brigadier General Zarondin Md Amin, southern Philippines