Esscom activates Op Cegah Pati to curb Covid-19 spread at three Sabah east coast districts

KOTA KINABALU: The Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) has activated a special operation against undocumented migrants to curb the spread of Covid-19 at three districts in Sabah's east coast.

Esscom Commander Deputy Comm Datuk Ahmad Fuad Othman (pic) said the first phase of the operation - Op Cegah Pati (OCP) - would take effect from Friday (Sept 18) until Sept 30, involving Semporna, Kunak and Lahad Datu districts.

Under the operation, Esscom would crack down on undocumented migrants, who may have been infected by the virus, and may be attempting to enter the country, and risk causing new clusters.

OCP - involving marine police, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), other security forces as well as the Health, Immigration and Customs Departments - is an effort to help the government to break the pandemic chain from further spreading, he said in a statement.

DCP Fuad said there was a possibility that undocumented migrants, who have jobs in this state but were currently in their home countries, would try to return to Sabah via the three districts.

"Our modus operandi is to show the presence of security teams at identified areas and illegal hotspots.

"This will also deter cross-border criminals including those from smuggling and Abu Sayyaf groups," he added.

Meanwhile in Tawau, the district police said roadblocks have been initiated starting Friday due to rising cases of the virus.

Tawau OCPD Asst Comm Peter Umbuas said the disaster operation control centre via Tawau police headquarters, has set eight locations for the roadblocks.

Various agencies were involved in the roadblocks including Rela, the Armed Forces and Civil Defence Force, he added.

"A total of 341 officers are deployed at the roadblocks and we hope the community adheres to the health protocols," said ACP Umbuas.