Federal police Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Hazani Ghazali said the Abu Sayyaf sub-leader was getting food supplies in an area in Sulu when he was spotted by the authorities there.
He said this was based on the information obtained from the Philippine National Police Joint Task Force Sulu (JTFS) and Western Mindanao Command (J2 Westmincom).
Following this, he said, security along Sabah territorial waters had been stepped up.
"Despite no kidnapping cases reported there over the past two years, security in Sabah needs to be beefed up and a Special Action Unit will be deployed there to prevent the Abu Sayyaf sub-leader from entering Sabah," he said.
He told reporters this after handing over donations to two poor families in the Pasir Mas district police station today.
Hazani said Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) would work closely with J2 Westmincom, including exchanging information on the matter.
It was reported that the sub-leader, who had been previously reported as having been shot dead last May in the Philippines, was confirmed to be still alive.
Esscom commander Deputy Commissioner Hamzah Ahmad had said this was confirmed through sharing of information by the Philippines security forces involving JTFS and J2 Westmincom.
He added that Mudzrimar has been confirmed to be still alive following a series of clashes and encounters between Philippine security forces and the suspect since July 2021.
Hamzah said after that, Mudzrimar, who was removed from the list of individuals wanted by Esscom last year was now listed again following a kidnapping for ransom case in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone.
Mudzrimar is a nephew of Abu Sayyaf senior leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, besides having expertise in making bombs as well as planning the bombings in a number of incidents in Jolo, the Philippines, in 2020, including at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral.