SABAH Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal plans to meet the Philippines ambassador soon to raise Sabah’s concerns that security threat in the southern Philippines might spill over to Sabah.

He said he is not taking these threats lightly in view of the recent bomb attacks related to groups who rejects the establishment of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

“We will do our level best and as the State Security Council chairman, we have had several meetings on security. At present there is no cause for worry.

“We have faced this problem since the 1970s, when the Philippines was under Ferdinand Marcos’ rule.

“We are not taking things lightly and will continue to put a stop to any threats, especially from the Southern Philippines,” he said after attending the presentation of state awards in Kota Kinabalu to police officers who served during the Tanduo incursion six years ago.

Also present were Sabah police chief Omar Mammah and Inspector General of Police Fuzi Harun.

Dozens of people were killed and injured in the bombing of a Jolo cathedral on January 27.

The deadly attack comes after residents in the area of the southern Philippines voted to reject the Bangsamoro Organic Law in a referendum on January 21.

Fuzi said security on Sabah’s east coast remains under control.

“We are monitoring the situation in the southern Philippines. We are also in contact with the Sabah Government and our counterparts in the Philippines to make sure the security threats are contained,” he said. – February 18, 2019.