'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.