KFR groups using illegals as informers in ESSzone: Intelligence officer

KUNAK: Kidnapping for Ransom (KFR) groups are believed to be using illegals as informers to commit cross-border crimes in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone), according to Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) Intelligence assistant chief of staff Supt Che Aris Bakar.
He said all quarters, especially communities in the Esszone, must stand shoulder to shoulder to help the government clear illegals from the area.
The traditional KFR targets, he said, were those involved in cagefish rearing, fishing platforms and seaweed growing activities, fishermen, anglers besides people taking up sailing.
"What is worrying is that now the targets of the KFR groups, who are active in the southern Philippines, are those on land such as what took place at the Ocean King Restaurant, Sandakan.
"The kidnapping in Sandakan was masterminded by insiders who are had good knowledge of the situation in the area and the individuals to be targeted.
Clearly, Esscome is facing illegals who are already in Sabah and act as informants," he said.
Aris, who represented Esscom Commander, Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun, said this at a question-and-answer session in an "ESSCom and the Kunak Fishing Community" programme at the Kunak Rest House, near here, today.
Aris also urged the fishing community to be alert when at sea as they were also the targets of KFR.
"Fishermen must be alert about their surroundings including abiding by the security forces' directives if there were any threats at sea.
They must also always have their identification documents with them to facilitate monitoring by the security forces," he said.
On the curfew enforced in six districts in Esszone, he said it was aimed at ensuring the waters in the districts were under control and secure.
Aris also urged the people not to question the appropriateness of the integrated operations which were coordinated by Esscom to hunt down illegals in Esszone, but to give their solid support to the security forces for the common good. – Bernama