The content of the SMS that claimed a riot would take place on Tuesday night.
KOTA KINABALU: It was unusually quiet in the busy city centre last night.
It seemed that people were skeptical with the short messaging system (SMS) circulated on a possible 1am riot at three locations – Lahad Datu, Keningau and here, and decided to stay home.
The SMS, which was widely circulated yesterday, stated a possible riot by a group of foreigners following the ‘failed’ negotiation between the armed men with the police in Lahad Datu.
It also said the information was received from a ‘sergeant’ who is attached to the Cheras police station.
The usually lively city was ‘almost empty’ with only several cars driving around.
Despite calls by the authorities, including Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, to ignore rumour-like SMSes, the police did not take any chances as their presence was also felt at several spots here.
In a survey carried out in Lahad Datu and Keningau, situations were similar as people felt safer at home.
“We were told that it was just a rumour, but thought that we should not take any chances … it is better to be safe than sorry,” said Emmy Jane Joannes, when asked of the condition in Keningau.
She said it was also “unusually quiet”, and all possible entry points into the house were properly locked.
“I even checked the doors and windows twice, just to be sure,” she said who lives in Kampung Bulu Silou, in Keningau.
As for Lahad Datu, a person, who only wanted to be identified as Amin, said despite being close to Kampung Tandou, which is described as the root of the tension, things seemed to be “fine”.
“We had a simple gathering yesterday, and although we kept on our toes, we tried as much to enjoy ourselves. Plus, we know it was just rumour spread by irresponsible few,” he said.
The Royal Malaysia Police immediately issued a statement in its Facebook page yesterday, denying such rumours and said the situation in Sabah was safe and under control and urged that the public should not believe in any such rumours.
Police would be carrying out an investigation into the matter and appropriate action would be taken against anyone spreading rumours that could jeopardise the country’s security, the statement said.
Kota Kinabalu city police chief ACP Jauteh Dikun, when contacted yesterday, advised the public not to panic and reminded those irresponsible individuals to stop spreading false information.
He said police have been mounting roadblocks and conducting patrol around the state capital as normal crime prevention operations and assured the public that their safety would always be their number one priority.
Hishammuddin, who is on a couple of days working visit to Sabah, urged the rumourmongers to take a rest and let the security forces handle the situation in Kampung Tandou, nearby Felda Sahabat, in Lahad Datu.
Last Tuesday, news broke that police had cordoned the Felda Sahabat area after discovering the presence of armed men there.
Police tried to reason with them by calling for negotiation. However, the process was called off and the state government was processing the deportation of these armed men to the Philippines.
Hishammuddin also visited the location yesterday.