'Attempts by terrorists in RP to enter Sabah foiled'

'Attempts by terrorists in RP to enter Sabah foiled'

Agence France-Presse, Sandakan, Malaysia

Security forces said there had been four attempts by terrorists
from neighboring Philippines to sneak into Malaysia's eastern
Sabah state, including one possible try by Jamaah Islamiyah (JI)
bombmaker Fathur Rohman Al-Ghozi, a senior police officer said on
Sunday.

Muhamad Yassin Yahya, fifth brigade commander, said, however,
that all the attempted incursions were prevented due to the
increased presence of security forces and their constant patrol
of the eastern coastal waters of Sabah on Borneo island.

"We admit having heard of many attempts by terrorist groups to
enter the country via the Sulu Sea and Sandakan but they failed
because of tight Malaysian security," Muhamad Yassin said.

Sabah police chief Ramli Yusuf said security forces had been
placed on full alert following the arrest of alleged terror
kingpin Hambali in Thailand on Aug. 11.

"Our security forces have taken precautionary steps and are
constantly on the look out especially after the Bali bombing
incident and the current political conflict in southern
Philippines," he said.

Police believe Al-Ghozi could have been one of the Muslim
militants who tried to enter Malaysia, Muhamad Yassin said.

Senior JI militant Al-Ghozi's escape from a Philippine prison
last month was a setback for the regional fight against terrorism
and raised the threat of attacks across Southeast Asia.

Al-Ghozi had been serving a 17-year jail term for explosives
possession. He had earlier admitted to plotting bomb attacks
against Western targets in Singapore and led Philippine police to
an explosives cache hidden in the south.