Sea patrols have been increased in Tawi-Tawi.
TAWI-TAWI: Turtle Islands (Taganak), the last Philippine island municipality in Tawi-Tawi and nearest to Sandakan, has imposed additional health precautions in view of the rising number of Covid-19 cases in Malaysia.
Fearing of a possible surge of positive cases after the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration, its municipal Mayor Mohd Faizal Jamalul said tightening of measures are unavoidable.
He said the decision was designed to further protect the health of all Tawitawians and Sabahans.
“Coronavirus infection is under control in my province but we are worried of the rising number of cases in Manila, Zamboanga City including additional new cases in neighbouring Sulu. We are also closely monitoring the situation in Peninsular Malaysia. We hope and pray that the foreign variants will not invade Sabah,” Mohd Faizal said.
With approval and support from Provincial Governor Yshmail Sali, local and national Inter-Anti Task Force (IATF) authorities, the soft spoken Mayor said movement of people (inter-municipality travel) in Turtle Islands had now been further tightened.
He said sea patrols had been increased and drastic action would be taken against all violators regardless of their status in the government and society.
Mohd Faizal said people caught violating the health protocols like not properly wearing face mask and practising physical distancing, and breaking curfew will have to face the ‘music’.
“Filipinos in Sabah illegally entering my municipality without the required RT-PCR swab test result and other documentations will be subjeted to strict screening, including the mandatory 14-day isolation at the quarantine centre.
“Suspected terrorists, smugglers, illegal recruiters, and other enemies of the government who refuse to surrender to my local authorities will be shot at site. My shoot-to-kill order still remains against this group of people”.
The provincial security council member also urged his people, particularly fishermen and small traders, to refrain from entering neighbouring Sandakan to sell their sea products and purchase essential goods without authorisation from the mayor’s office and green light from Sabah.
“I will not extend even an inch of help to those who take for granted my policies and violate Malaysian laws and other regulations,” Mohd Faizal stressed.
With the recent setting up of the powerful radar and stationing of a Philippine navy vessel in front of Turtle Islands plus round-the-clock sea patrol security, he said it is now easy and effective to detect unwanted intruders.
“I will continue to work closely with our Malaysian friends, particularly the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) to keep our borders free from cross-border crimes,” he said, adding: “Saving lives and our economies is vital in this difficult time”.