Muguntan Vanar

The Star

Publication Date : 28-03-2015

At least seven islands in Sabah would be converted into "restricted areas" to further strengthen cross-border security.

Sabah Federal Secretary Borhan Dollah on Friday visited the islands - Bohey Dulang, Terumbu Sibangkat, Pulau Selakan, Mantabuan, Pom-Pom, Sibuan dan Maiga - off Semporna to get first hand briefing on various security issues at the islands.

He was accompanied and briefed by Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) commander Abdul Rashid Harun.

Rashid said security forces have long suspected that the islands were being used as a staging point to carry out kidnapping, smuggling and bring in illegal immigrants.

This was the reason to place the islands under restricted areas, he said.

There are 360 islands under Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZONE) of which 83 are in Semporna. ESSZONE covers 10 districts - Kudat, Kota Marudu, Pitas, Beluran, Kinabatangan, Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Tawau.

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Seven Sabah islands to come under "restricted zones"