ESSZone curfew extended due to potential kidnapping and Abu Sayyaf threats

The 22nd phase of the curfew in the waters off the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) which expired today would be extended to the 23rd phase, beginning tomorrow until Aug 5.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman said the curfew, from 7 pm till 5 am, involving six districts, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau was extended for security considerations.

In a statement today, he said the decision to extend the curfew was based on new information about potential threats of Kidnapping For Ransom and Abu Sayyaf.

He said chalet operators and the fishing community were also supportive of the extension.

The curfew would enable security forces to carry out enforcement, and monitoring of boat movements and suspicious activities in relation to cross border crime such as human and drug trafficking and firearm smuggling, he said.

Meanwhile, Jalaluddin said district police chiefs in ESSZone had been empowered to issue permits to those involved in fishery activities or during an emergency.