Sabah on full alert for fleeing Abu Sayyaf rebels

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Security forces Sabah were on full alert yesterday after some members of the Abu Sayyaf kidnap group reportedly fled there by speed boat from the southern Philippines, a senior official said.

"We are on alert - the navy, the police, the army have stepped up patrols in the area," Muhamad Yasin Yahya, fifth infantry brigade commander, was quoted as saying by the Bernama news agency.

Muhamad Yasin said security forces were monitoring all boats entering Malaysian waters from the neighbouring Philippines but had no indications the rebels had infiltrated Sabah waters.

"We are checking every boat. But from reports we have received, there is no indications that members of the (rebel) group slipped into our waters. We are monitoring the situation closely," he said.

A Philippine intelligence report Saturday suggested at least 10 Abu Sayyaf rebels fled to Sabah in recent days.

Notorious for kidnapping

They snuck out of Patikul on the island of Jolo, fleeing a military offensive against the stronghold of the gang linked by both Washington and Manila to the al-Qaeda terror network, the report said.

Among those reportedly bound for Sabah are rebels blamed for the kidnapping of 21 Filipino, Malaysian and Western hostages from dive resorts in Sabah two years ago, it said.

Most of the captives were later freed, allegedly after ransom was paid.

The Abu Sayyaf are notorious for kidnapping Christians and foreigners in the southern Philippines and holding them for hefty ransoms. AFP



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