Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the local communities in six districts in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) must understand the security situation in the area and cooperate fully with the curfew order imposed on the area.     

 

He said it was important for them to abide by the curfew hours from 6pm to 6am to facilitate the detection of criminals and intruders by the security forces.            

 

"They must know what is a curfew order. It is an order which prohibits anyone from carrying out activities outside their house during the set time.     

 

"I ask that the local communities understand the situation...we don't want problems to arise if they disobey the curfew order or if something untoward happens to them, and they blame the security forces," he said after a working visit to the General Operations Force (GOF) camp in Pulau Mabul, near Semporna, today.  

 

Wan Junaidi also advised residents under the curfew order not to engage in any activity at the beach area or at sea at night, but to do it in the day time.    

 

"I know the curfew order could affect the community's activities to a certain extent, especially the fishermen's. But we must understand the reason for the government to impose curfew is to prevent threats like intrusion and kidnapping.      

 

"So, we must accept the reality that the curfew is the best measure to ensure harmony and to safeguard the country's sovereignty, particularly Sabah's," he said.    

 

Last Saturday, Sabah police commissioner, Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman declared the curfew order from 6pm to 6am in the coastal areas of eastern Sabah from Tanjung Pundaras in Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Semporna and right up to the Tawau Jetty, a distance of 362 nautical miles.  

 

Also present during Wan Junaidi's visit to the camp was Esscom commander, Abdul Rashid Harun.

 

- Bernama