LIMBANG: The police here are ready to assist their counterparts in Miri in logistic support and beefing up their personnel if called up to deal with 100 China-registered fishing boats and vessels that have encroached into Malaysian waters near Beting Patinggi Ali some 84 nautical mile off Miri.
Limbang District police chief, Superintendent Mohd Bukhori Saffai said the marine police had been patrolling the waters off Limbang to fend off foreign vessels and other groups that threaten the nation’s sovereignty.
“We are on full alert and are ready to assist in whatever ways required. Our marine patrol boats are on the move,” he said when met by reporters after the 209th Police Day celebration at the Limbang Police Headquarters yesterday.
Also present were his deputy, DSP Tega Bilong and Asiah Hasan, who is chairperson of the Limbang Police Family Association (PERKEP) Limbang and wife of Mohd Bukhori.
On Thursday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said that about 100 China-registered boats and vessels had been detected on March 24 encroaching into Malaysia’s waters near Beting Patinggi Ali which is also known as Luconia Shoals.
“Three MMEA vessels have been deployed to the area. The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) assets are also there.
“The Bombardier aircraft has also carried out aerial monitoring in that area and found a group of Chinese fishermen there,” he said.
Meanwhile Mohd Bukhori said Limbang police are also on the lookout for followers of deviant Islamic teaching – Millah Abraham, which had been reported to have bought land in Tuaran, Sabah and in Simunjan to use as base to spread their teaching.
He urged members of the public to assist the police in reporting the followers of Daulah Islamiah Millah Abraham which was believed to be active in Indonesia particularly Kalimantan as well as in Sarawak, Sabah, Peninsular Malaysia.
Earlier during the function, Mohd Bukhori conferred awards on five police personnel and presented commendation letters to several others.