Ops Daulat deters more than terrorists

The presence of security forces under the Ops Daulat since February has deterred not only terrorists but appears to have indirectly defused dynamite fishing activities in the waters of Semporna as well. "Between January and July we have not detected a single dynamite fishing incidence, whereas there were 10 cases during the same period last year with a seizure of 2,463 detonators," Semporna Marine Police, commanding officer ASP Mat Zawawi Mat Yaacob told Bernama. He added that last year there were a total of 21 cases, with tens of suspects detained, 2,532 detonators and thousands of kilogrammes of fish seized. "There has been a strong presence of various security forces throughout the Ops Daulat here. Maybe they have indirectly helped to curb this activity," he said. Mat Zawawi said the marine police would still continue its patrols however, and urged the public to inform them of any suspicious activity at sea. Ops Daulat was launched by the government to capture the Southern Philippines terrorist who had intruded the east coast of Sabah through Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu and Kampung Sri Jaya, Simunul in Semporna on February 12. The security in the area has been further tightened ever since the incident. Ops Daulat, is now known as Ops Sanggah, after its operations were taken over by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM).