KOTA KINABALU: The curfew at the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (Esszone), which ends today, will be extended for another two weeks for phase 101.
Similar to previous order, the new curfew has been enforced from 6pm to 6am until Nov 27.
State Police Commissioner, Datuk Omar Mammah, said the order to extend the curfew was issued by the Home Minister according to Section 31 (4) of the Police Act 1967.
“The curfew covered seven districts in the Esszone namely Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Beluran.
“I hope the people in these districts to avoid being in the locations identified as a curfew zone,” he said in a statement.
Omar said the curfew extension was needed to ensure that the country’s waters are not intruded by terrorists especially kidnap-for-ranson and Abu Sayyaf militants.
These groups, said Omar, are still attempting to intrude into the country waters to commit cross-border crimes.
“We also want to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the people in the state who are in our waters and those who are on land near the Esszone,” he said, adding that was needed to facilitate the monitoring of boat activities.
He said all district police chiefs in the Esszone have been authorised to issue permits to any eligible applicants to conduct fishing activities in the areas affected by the extension of the curfew.