SANDAKAN - Nineteen illegal immigrants from the Philippines were detained while trying to enter Sabah at the Felda Sahabat in Lahad Datu, the flashpoint of Sulu gunmen clash with military forces in February.

Eastern Sabah Security Command director-general (Esscom) Datuk Mohammad Mentek said the group, comprising seven men, four women and eight children, arrived in a boat at 8.45pm Wednesday.

He said the group was detained by security forces who were involved in Ops Gasak which was initiated by Esscom since Dec 1.

Mohammad Mentek said initial investigations revealed that the boat carrying the illegal immigrants was heading to Sinakut, a zone in Labian, Felda Sahabat.

"The illegal immigrants were detained after receiving information from the public," he told reporters after opening a workshop on the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the security of the Tourism Industry in Sabah, here.

Mohammad Mentek said Ops Gasak was launched to improve security around the East Sabah Security Zone (Esszone). - Bernama

The wrecked Proton Saga car at the scene of the collision with an oil tanker in Lahad Datu-Felda Sahabat road.

KUNAK: Three men were killed, two other men and a woman were injured in two road accidents in the east coast on Monday.

In one of the accidents, two of the men were killed and another man was seriously injured when the car they were travelling in collided with a four-wheel drive vehicle at Km 5, Kunak-Tawau road.

Kunak district police chief Supt M Radzali Mahmud said Pangkuma Bedie, 42, a police sergeant from Sarawak, and his friend Wong Hon Sung, 71, died on the spot in the 11.27pm incident.

"One of their friends Richard, 51, who was driving the car was seriously injured and is being treated at the Tawau General Hospital, while another friend only sustained minor injuries," he said.

However, the driver of the other vehicle did not suffer any injuries.

"Initial investigations showed that the accident occurred when the car driven by Richard had tried to turn into a junction when it was hit by a four-wheel drive that was coming from Tawau," he said.

In the other accident, a resident of Lahad Datu was killed while his wife and a friend suffered minor injuries when the Proton Saga BLM car they were travelling in collided with an oil tanker at Km 78, Lahad Datu-Felda Sahabat road on Monday.

District police chief ACP Shamsudin Mat said the deceased was identified as Abdul Wahab bin Ali, 44.

"Initial police investigation revealed that the oil tanker, which was heading towards Lahad Datu from Felda Sahabat, collided with the Proton Saga coming from the opposite direction around 3.30pm. The oil tanker driver reportedly lost control of his vehicle and veered into the path of the oncoming Proton Saga," Shamsudin said.

The impact of the crash caused both vehicles to skid onto the road shoulder with the driver of the Proton Saga trapped in his seat.

The driver of the Proton Saga was killed on the spot while two other passengers were taken to the nearest hospital for treatment.

"This case would be investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987," Shamsudin said, adding that the tanker driver had escaped unhurt.

Category: Sabah, Sarawak