KOTA KINABALU, Nov 5 — The curfew on Sabah’s east coast has been extended for the seventh time, restricting sea activities from 7pm to 5am in the six districts under Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (Esszone).

Sabah police commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman announced the extension will last until November 22, following the expiry of sixth phase of the curfew today.

“The curfew is still necessary in order to ensure continuous safety in the east coast and also curb smuggling activities,” he told reporters after the monthly police gathering at the State’s police headquarters today.

Jalaluddin said that the curfew was effective in monitoring unnecessary and illegal movements in the waters of the east coast, and kept tourists feeling secure.

A 6pm-to-6am curfew was first imposed on July 19 following a spate of kidnappings of local and foreign nationals and an attack by armed foreigners along the east coast of Sabah.

The has been extended every two weeks since, and was shortened to 10 hours from 7pm to 5am beginning August 18.

The curfew covers areas starting from about three nautical miles from shore until the international border with the Philippines, stretching some 362 nautical miles and encompassing some 121,270 sq miles, from Tanjung Pun­daras in Sandakan until parts of Pulau Sebatik near Tawau.

The six districts involved are Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Semporna, Kunak and Tawau.