Sandakan: All tugboats and fishing boats operating in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) have been given two weeks to install an Automated Identification System (AIS) for detection. They were also advised to alert Esscom immediately if they see speeding boats or pump boats during curfew hours. Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun said ever since he made this call many have yet to install the device because they did not want their activities to be known by the authorities such as encroaching into international waters and other reasons only known to them.
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He said they now have two weeks to comply. He, however, did not say what action would be taken against those who fail to do so after the deadline.The AIS, he said, would enable the authorities to monitor their movement and come to their assistance in the event of trouble.
He said that as part of safety measures all tugboat and fishing boat operators must inform Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) main centre at 089-863181 about their movement one hour in advance, even if they have a change of plan. "Let's all cooperate. We can't always burden the security forces," he told a press conference, Monday.
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He lamented that there has been lack of cooperation from the operators in assisting the authorities to maintain security in the area."Before this, I asked the tourism players to cooperate and they did. Now I'm asking the same from tugboat and fishing boat operators," he said.
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He insisted that the operators must constantly communicate with security authorities and provide information immediately if they notice anything suspicious.On issuance of permits for fishermen during curfew hours, Abdul Rashid said the matter would be reviewed.
