KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 ― A curfew will be enforced within the next 48 hours to tighten security along Sabah’s east coast, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar. 

This is to identify potential threats and enable security forces to carry out checks, especially in the event that someone breaks curfew. 

“The curfew will be implemented to complement efforts in having the designated sea routes to avoid any misuse of the routes,” he said in a statement yesterday. 

Khalid said steps to improve security in Sabah would be implemented, particularly in ‘hotspots’ Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna, and Sandakan.

Among the steps was to place more armed forces in the state.

In addition to police personnel already stationed in Sabah, 330 police officers would be sent to the state, assisted by 350 army personnel.

“Most of them will be placed in resorts and caged fish farms,” he said.

The measures come in light of the attack by eight gunmen on a marine police team at a Mabul resort on Saturday, during which Kpl Abdul Rajah Jemuan was killed and Kons Zakiah Aleip abducted. 

Khalid said the number of water and air assets from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), Navy, and Air Force would be increased and placed in “strategic areas in and around Sabah waters”. 

He said police would introduce designated sea routes to ensure vessels used a set path from international waters to eastern Sabah.

“This is our way to ensure that the waters will not be used by criminals intending to trespass into  Sabah waters.”

“We will also carry out community policing with the fishermen community in the whole of eastern Sabah waters to create a stronger relationship with them.

“An SOP and rules of engagement will be introduced in an effort to coordinate between all enforcement agencies,” he said.

Earlier, he reiterated that a proper study needed to be carried out between the police and the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) before a standard operating procedure (SOP) is drawn up allowing security personnel to shoot at anyone suspected to be a threat.

He said the discussions would involve the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) security forces, Malaysian Armed Forces and MMEA.

“We will discuss with all the stakeholders to come up with a skeleton of an SOP which will be in accord with existing laws,” Khalid told reporters after handing out Raya goodies to police officers at Bukit Aman police headquarters yesterday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had stated that there should be a clear SOP before the power to shoot on sight can be granted.

The request for shoot-on-sight authority was made by Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar following Saturday’s incident.