KOTA KINABALU, May 15 — The Sabah State Security Committee (JKKN) today approved the standard operating procedure (SOP) for the implementation and enforcement of six designated routes along the waters off Sabah, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.

“The SOP to take effect on June 1, is to monitor the movement of merchant boats and foreign passengers, prevent violation of the state and Malaysia’s laws by focusing on safety and regulatory trade activities and safety of navigation.

“This will also help the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency to control and ensure that the movement of merchant boats and foreign passengers in the waters off Sabah, are more organised and that the socio and economic activities being carried out are legal.

“The procedure is also to make sure that the passenger and trading boats are in the designated routes and only enter the state through the Tawau, Semporna, Lahad Datu, Sandakan, Kudat, Kota Kinabalu or Labuan ports,” he said in a statement today.

Musa said all boats and ships must stay within one nautical mile of the median line of the designated routes, be lighted at night till they produce a silhouette, and use the coordinates points when entering and exiting the routes.

He said additional measures would also be implemented in phases at the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone), such as the Forward Operation Base which would be built at a specific height on the surface of the sea for monitoring, surveillance, enemy tracking, and providing swift logistical support.

He said observation towers would be built at high risk and strategic posts.

Musa said the use of government integrated radio network would be optimised and relevant assets such as radar surveillance system and high capacity boats provided at strategic routes.

The chief minister also said there was a need to enforce the Regional Control Regulations based on the Public Order (Preservation) Act 1958 (Act 296) and other national legislations to ensure effective monitoring and movement control in high-risk areas in the ESSZone.

He said action would also be taken to eradicate all illegal tourism and maritime-related activities within ESSZone, while all vessels and non-convention sized ships would be recorded by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) for the purpose of identifying the property owner, movement and security in general. — Bernama