SEMPORNA: The curfew order implemented in six districts of the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) will not be made as a permanent order and will be implemented according to security needs.
Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said a press conference at Pulau Mabul yesterday that at this moment the curfew was implemented because there is a need, especially to protect the security of the areas.
Khalid said the implementation of the curfew is two weeks for a phase and it would be continued to another phase in accordance with security requirements of the areas.
“Our priority is to protect the security of the people in the state, especially in the east coast of Sabah and the implementation of curfew did not give any problem to the tourists who visit the resorts in the area.
“The implementation of curfew has provided a positive impact on the security in this area, especially in detecting intrusions into our country and it will continue to be implemented according to security needs,” he said.
On October 5, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman announced an extension of the curfew until October 21, which will be imposed at six districts in eastern Sabah, namely Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau.
The curfew implemented since July 19 now enters its sixth phase.
According to Khalid, the Royal Malaysian Police, Malaysian Armed Forces and other agencies will always discuss with the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) to increase the security in ESSZone.