Vessels entering Sabah waters can only use "designated sea routes", following a rise in security breaches there, police said.

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar (right) said the routes will be announced soon.

He said that the designated sea routes affects vessels entering from international waters into Sabah waters on the east coast.

"This is also to avoid abuse of sea routes by criminals to intrude into Sabah waters," he said in a statement.

He added that a curfew will be imposed on the Sabah east coast to complement the designated sea routes plan.

These are among several steps to be undertaken by the police in the Borneo state within the next 48 hours.

This follows the killing of one police officer and the abduction of another off Pulau Mabul on Sunday.

Other measures to be taken are:

  • Deploying an addition 330 police personnel to affected areas, especially those frequented by tourists;

 

  • Deploying 350 military personnel to the same areas to assist police;

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  • Adding more assets for the maritime police (APMN) and Royal Malaysian Air Force at affected areas; and

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  • Community policing in fishermen villagers to build ties between enforcement agencies and the local communities.
    • "This measure are taken to ensure peace and safety on the Sabah east coast, especially at hotspots like Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Sandakan," he said.