TAWAU: A foreign fisherman who tried to fish in the country’s waters was escorted out from waters off Sungai Melayu, here, Monday.
Commanding officer of the Tawau Marine Police Force headquarters (PPM), DSP Ridzauddin Selamat, said his team noticed the presence of a boat believed to be from the neighbouring country.
He said his men stopped the boat for inspection and a 49-year-old foreigner on board was questioned.
“The man could not produce a valid identification document upon further inspection.
“The fisherman was then briefed on Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) before being escorted out of the country’s waters,” he said.
Ridzauddin said the “Op Benteng operation, which is currently being carried out, is based on the approach of eviction rather than arrest.
This, he said, is in line with the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1998 to prevent the spread of Covid-19 infections brought into the country by foreigners.
“The approach is also an early preventive measure to prevent the entry of foreigners through Tawau waters,” he said.
Ridzauddin hoped coastal communities would share information on the entry of illegal immigrants (Pati) in their area.
All information can be forwarded through the WhatsApp application to PPM Region 4 Sabah at 013-2831197 or directly to the operations centre, PPM Tawau (089-983628).
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