Sabah to lift barter trade ban in east coast from Feb 1

KOTA KINABALU: The ban on barter trading in Sabah’s east coast will be lifted following a decision by the state security council to allow import and export activities in the area from Feb 1.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said Tuesday's council meeting also decided to allow ferry services between the northern Kudat town and Palawan in southern Philippines to begin from that date.

He said the Kudat Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex will be opened to facilitate the ferry services.

Musa also said that resumption of transshipment activities would however be subject to fixed operating regulations in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) area stretching from Kudat all the way to Tawau.

The state government imposed the ban on barter trading in Sabah’s east coast last April following a spate of abductions in the area.

Musa said the import and export of sea products between Sabah and Indonesia will also be allowed to resume but these activities have be carried out designated jetties or landing points.

On pump boats, he said these will be allowed to be used by Malaysian citizens and stern action will be taken against foreigners caught using such vessels.

He said the state security council, which he heads, also decided that all measures in strengthening security in the east coast must continue.

Musa said a large-scale of deportation of illegal immigrants from southern Philippines arrested in Sabah will be carried out in late February using Malaysian navy vessels.