Sabah remains on alert for any threat, not taking any info lightly

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah remains of high alert across the state's east coast to counter any form intrusion or threats posed by militants or criminal elements even if information lacked evidence.

Sabah Deputy Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said that the police acted on all information received and did not take lightly any information they received from the public.

He said that though there were no real evidence on villager's claim that a group of foreign men had infiltrated through Long Patau in Lahad Datu, police was being investigated fully as part of security precautions.

"Although so far we have found no evidence on the claim but we do not take such information lightly," he told reporters after inspecting an Ops Selamat roadblock in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebrations at Putatan near here on Saturday (Feb 5).

"We are always on alert not only because of this information but even before this we have been on high alert to overcome any form of intrusion or threats to the security and sovereignty of our country," he said.

On Thursday (Feb 4), Eastern Sabah Security Command confirmed that they were investigating claims that foreigners had allegedly landed in the Long Patau, Tabisan, Sabah's eastern most tip that neighbours islands in the southern Philippines.

Jauteh said that though were no real evidence of the landing, the police continued to follow up on the claims through intelligence investigations to check on the authenticity of the claims.

On Friday, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Idris Abdullah said they were no proof or evidence that about 10 armed men entering Tambisan on Jan 28.

"So far we have found no proof or indication of such activities (landing of foreign men)," he said.

"There is no need for the public to worry, we are always ready to face any threats," he said.

Concerns over security over the east coast of Sabah surfaced late last year when unconfirmed reports claimed that southern Philippines based Sulu militants were hatching plans to invade Sabah.

The claims that senior political figures were behind the plan was denied by Philippines military in subsequently who explained that the meeting between Sulu Governor Abdulsakur Tan and Sulu mayors was held to discuss maritime security issues in the Sulu area.

In Feb 2013, over 100 Sulu militants linked to the self proclaimed Sulu Sultan claiming Sabah intruded into Kg Tanduo in Lahad Datu.

It ended with the Malaysian security forces defeating them.