SANDAKAN: Sabah’s east coast is still generally safe, despite occasional incidents of cross border crime, which include kidnappings for ransom Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) commander Datuk Hazani Ghazali said joint-patrolling and intelligence-sharing between Malaysian and Philippine forces have greatly prevented foreign criminals from making incursions into Sabah waters.
“There are attempts by them to come into the state, but we are always vigilant.
“We are doing our best to ensure the sovereignty of the state, and security is at the highest level,” he said when contacted by Berita Harian.
Yesterday, Abu Sayyaf group commander Abu Paliyak, 31, was shot dead by security forces in Silam waters off Lahad Datu.
The wanted man had been involved in several robberies in Kunak and Lahad Datu in 2014; and is believed to have been an informer for a KFR group on the movements of security forces at sea.
Hazani said he hopes that more Abu Sayyaf members will be traced and arrested.
Translated from Berita Harian