KUALA LUMPUR: Maritime security forces have been ordered to increase efforts to monitor the 1,700km long stretch off Sabah’s east coast after a kidnap-for-ransom gang managed to evade detection and took three fishermen near Semporna.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that he had made the order to the Eastern Sabah Security Com­mand (Esscom), Malaysian Mari­time Enforcement Agency and navy.

“This gang operate in the southern Philippines, specifically near islands located in the vicinity of the Malaysian border.

“We have done a lot of surveillance in the area but this gang has somehow managed to continue to operate ‘under the radar’,” Dr Ahmad Zahid told reporters here yesterday.

The Home Minister added that the fishermen held IMM13 documents and were not Malaysian citizens.

The IMM13 is a temporary residence permit issued under Regulation 11 of the Immigration Rules.

Many Filipino refugees who came to Sabah after fleeing the conflict in the southern Philippines, especially in the 1970s, were issued with the permits.

Resource : The Star Online