Sabah police chief says stepping up security to prevent foreign disturbance during state poll

(Bernama) – Security in Sabah has been stepped up ahead of polling on Saturday to prevent foreign elements from creating trouble including committing kidnappings, said Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali.

He said the security forces would ensure that such threats could be neutralised.

“There were attempts to commit kidnapping (for ransom). We received this information from our Philippine counterparts…there were attempts (by criminals) there to come over to commit this crime,” he added.

In fact, there had been nine attempts by criminal groups from the Philippines who had wanted to enter Sabah to commit kidnapping for ransom since May this year, he said.

Hazani was speaking to reporters after observing the early voting process at the Senior Officers’ Mess of the Sabah police headquarters here today.

Two days ago, Hazani said police had received information that elements from a neighbouring country were planning to enter Sabah in big numbers to create trouble during polling on Saturday.