KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's dusk-to-dawn sea curfew, which ends at 6pm Monday (Feb 25), will be extended for another two weeks until March 12, says state Police Commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah.

He said the decision to extend the 6pm-to-6am curfew was made based on continuous threats emanating from cross-border criminals, including from kidnap-for-ransom groups.

Comm Omar said the curfew covers areas up to three nautical miles off Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Beluran.

"There is a need to continue the curfew in these waters to prevent the encroachment of terrorists and criminals who can threaten the safety of locals, international researchers and tourists on the islands," he said in a statement on Sunday (Feb 24).

"We also want to ensure the safety of the people of Sabah who use the waters and are staying near the Eastern Sabah Security Zone," he said.

Comm Omar added that the curfew was to facilitate enforcement and monitoring of boat activities in the area, as well as establish a sense of security through the presence of security teams.

"I have also given the authority to all district police chiefs to issue permits to any eligible applicants who fit the criteria to conduct fishery activities in the areas affected by the curfew," he said.

The curfew was first implemented on July 19, 2014, following a series of kidnappings that saw the beheading of Sarawakian Bernard Then Ted Fen and the killing of several others, including a policeman and tourists.