LAHAD DATU: Those entering or leaving Sabah should use the legitimate routes, said Sabah Region 4 Marine Police Force Commander ACP Mohamad Pajeri Ali (pic).
He said this was a reminder to avoid mishaps and untoward incidents.
“We (Malaysia) has a system, exit and enter legally, for example there is a CIQ in Tawau or the Sandakan Port. But most use illegal routes from neighbouring countries, taking the easy way to run from the law without thinking about safety as anything can happen in the middle of the sea,’’ he said.
In the meantime, Mohamad Pajeri said awareness on the aspect of safety when travelling by boat was still low.
One easy example, he said, was the regulation on life jackets in boats, which was always neglected.
“The boat skipper also takes on excess passengers, small boat laden with five, six passengers, whereas it is meant only for two, three passengers and compounded by the items carried by each passenger,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, he said a search and rescue operation (SAR) for six more missing sunken boat victims, which covered the waters between the Philippines and Semporna, was suspended Sunday and would resume today (Monday).
“We have contacted the Philippine National Police Maritime Group, other that the Sabah Air Operations Team to conduct SAR,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, Lahad Datu General Operations Force (GOF) officer, Lieutenant Asby Mohd Anwar, when contacted, said GOF fully ended its SAR Sunday.
“The SAR operation at sea was ended at 6pm, but several personnel are still stationed on land near the search area if any indicators concerning the incident are found,’’ he said.
Prior to this, it was reported that nine individuals had taken a boat from Sibutu, Philippines, which sank on Thursday, before a survivor was found in the waters of Merabung, Tungku, near here, on the same day.
Meanwhile, the bodies of a woman and a man were found floating in the waters of Bangingod, Tungku on Friday and the waters of Mataking Island, Saturday, simultaneously making it six including two children who were still missing.
