Mayor bans boats using town as jump-off port to commit crimes in Sabah

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Faizal

TAWI-TAWI : The Municipality of Turtle Islands (Taganak ) in Tawi-Tawi province outrightly refused to allow the skippers of nine wooden boats to use its wharf for a short stop over on Sunday.

This was because the wooden boats were suspected involved in transporting undocumented Filipinos to Sandakan.

The municipality is just less than an hour’s boat ride from Sandakan and the newly installed officials under the leadership of Mayor Haji Moh Faizal Jamalul has recently launched a war against drugs, illegal recruitment, smuggling, and all kinds of heinous crimes, including terrorism in the area. “The skippers wanted to drop anchor in our jetty but we did not allow them to do so because we suspected that they are involved in human trafficking … we advise them to return to their port of origin. We also told them that the Malaysian authorities will immediately be notified should they proceed to Sandakan,” Faizal said.

“I asked the owners of these wooden vessels not to drop anchor in my municipality if they are carrying undocumented Filipinos failing which they will be arrested together with their passengers for illegal human trafficking ,” he warned.

The mayor said Turtle Islands previously had been used by illegal recruiters as a jump-off port before making the sea crossing to Sandakan.

He said all the local authorities in the area including at the provincial level agreed to tighten its security for the benefit of the Tawitawians (locals) and neighbour Sabahans.

Unlike before, Faizal said Turtle Islands is now strictly scrutinising every vessel and its passengers coming in and out of our municipality to ensure that the long arm of the laws of both borders will be fully respected and adhered by everyone.

Violators of the law, he said, will be dealt with accordingly without fear or favour.

“I will develop Turtle Islands with the help of my Provincial Governor Yshmael ‘Mang’ I. Sali, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim and President Rodrigo R. Duterte,” he assured, adding that it is very important also that I have to work closely with the Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to achieve the desired goals and objectives.

Faizal said vessels ferrying local residents and legitimate tourists to Sandakan will be allowed in the municipality.

He said some tourists visit the town to witness the laying of eggs by green sea turtles on the beach at night.

Malaysian authorities, he said are firm in running after illegal immigrants.

“I do not want to see victims of illegal recruiters landing in Malaysian jails … this is the very reason why we are strictly imposing the ban in our municipality,” he stressed. Faizal reiterated: “Nakakaawa if you can see them (undocumented Filipinos) in jail. Let’s stop transporting these undocumented Filipinos to Sandakan if they lack the proper documents”.

The practice can be stopped if all concerned government agencies join hands and implement the laws on illegal recruitment for job placement in Malaysia, he said.