Local authorities in Tawau will increase the frequency of random checks at landing points that has been purportedly been used by vessels transporting illegal immigrants from Indonesia to Sabah.

Tawau district police chief Fadil Marsus told Malaysiakini that the landing points, as highlighted in a viral video recorded by two undercover Indonesian journalists, were also used by Sabahans from nearby Sebatik island.

In particular, Fadil cited one landing point seen in the video as being within sight of Tawau ferry terminal.

“That is a domestic landing point.

“In the video it was shown as if hundreds of migrants were able to enter Tawau every day. That is not true,” he said, in reference to an area known as Batu-Batu.

Fadil said investigations are also ongoing based on allegations made in the video against local Malaysian authorities, including the police.

“I would be lying if I say that there has never been a breach in security... They (Malaysian authorities) are not supposed to do this,” said Fadil in reference to allegations of Malaysian authorities being paid off by Indonesian ‘agents’ who are in turn paid to ferry the illegal immigrants.

In the 11-minute video, it was alleged that hundreds of Indonesians from South Sulawesi and Nusa Tenggara Timur crossed the border through Batu-Batu daily via Pari Pari port in Nunukan island, only having to pay off Malaysian security officials between RM50 to RM100.

The video also claimed other than the Batu-Batu access, the boats also go through other back-entry points like Kalabakan, Sungai Udin and Sungai Fui.

While maintaining that Malaysia’s border security have never been compromised, Fadil added that the local authorities have doubled its deployment following the latest expose by an Indonesian private broadcaster.

“We will put more focus on areas identified as being landing spots for illegal immigrants,” he said, adding that Sabah police are working together with the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) as well as their Indonesian counterparts.

Esscom commander Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid, meanwhile, said that Esscom’s main role is to coordinate any operations involving the police, armed forces and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency within the Eastern Sabah Security Zone from Kudat to Tawau.

“If there is any incidents or issues, investigations will be carried out by the police...,” he told Malaysiakini when asked for a response on Esscom’s role in tackling the issues highlighted in the video.

The video had since gone viral in Malaysia, with netizens raising concerns over the perceived security breach to Sabah’s borders.