Malaysian Fishermen can now go out without fear

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Fishermen can now go out without fear

SEMPORNA: Islanders on this east coast Sabah town are feeling at ease with the visible presence of security forces stationed at strategic locations. The largely fishing community is happy with the Government’s move to deploy personnel and set up bases on their islands to check on movement of criminals mainly responsible for piracy and kidnappings in their waters.

“We feel safe. Now we can go out to sea without fear,” said 73-year-old fisherman Panglima Ismail Panglima Nujum, the village head in Denawan island of about 1,188 people.

He said yesterday that previously villagers went out to sea with some fear that they might become victims of pirates or kidnappers from neighbouring southern Philippines.

Ismail said they were happy with the setting up of an army detachment unit following two kidnapping incidents by Abu Sayyaf gunmen at the diving haven of Sipadan and Pandanan last year.

“Senang keluar cari makan...boleh tidur nyenyak (It’s easier to go out to work and we can sleep peacefully),” said Ismail.

In a move to curb intrusions by armed gunmen in the east coast, the Government beefed up security along its borders with the Philippines by setting up security posts at the islands amid increased air and sea surveillance.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2001/9/1/nation/pkisland&sec=nation

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), September 06, 2001


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