By Olivia Miwil - October 16, 2020 @ 11:46pm
KUALA LUMPUR: Authorities are beefing up 'Op Cegah Pati' (OCP) to prevent the spread of Covid-19 infection among immigrants.
Armed Forces Chief General Tan Sri Affendi Buang said the operation had been carried out in three coastal areas east of Sabah - Semporna, Kunak and Lahad Datu.
"The execution of OCP will further strengthen and complement 'Op Benteng' which is being coordinated by the National Task Force (NTF) led by the Armed Forces.
"This joint coordination involves 19 different security and enforcement agencies including the police, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agencies (MMEA), Immigration Department and Customs Department," he said in a statement.
He said the first phase of the OCP in the east coast of Sabah began on Sept 18 to strengthen existing operations in the north and southern parts of Sabah.
The sea patrol covers the east coast waters of Sabah from Sandakan to Tawau. -- Pix courtesy of Malaysian Armed Forces
This, he said, was done by NTF through 'Op Benteng' with the execution of numerous initiatives including "Inisiatif Bertanya Khabar (public engagement), inspection and boat search by the Navy, MMEA and marine police.
"The sea patrol covers the east coast waters of Sabah from Sandakan to Tawau.
"So far, 22 series of maritime patrolling had been conducted. During these patrols, 54 public engagements, 69 inspections and searches, and 104 sighting reports were recorded.
"At the same time, 142 arrests involving illegal immigrants have been made," he said.
Since May 12, Affendi said the Air Force had also conducted 176 air surveillance in Sabah and Sarawak.
He also said security measures at the coastal areas and the islands were strengthened with the support from the army and the General Operations Force (GOF).
"The Immigration Department and Customs Department have joined forces to reinforce the country's border security especially at the Sabah east coast," he said, adding that NTF had mobilised 12,104 personnel to bolster 'Op Benteng'.
'Op Benteng' aims to prevent illegal immigrants from encroaching the borders particularly via the rat lanes.
The involvement and close cooperation among personnel and assets from all security and enforcement agencies, Affendi said, had boosted security along the borders and waters without any disruption to the enforcement of the Conditional Movement Control Order.
He also urged the public to share any information regarding immigrants, smuggling, encroachment or any cross border crime with the NTF hotline at 011-62511223.
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