ESSCom Confirms Shooting Incident In Waters Off Pom Pom Island

KOTA KINABALU (Sabah, Malaysia), July 2 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia's Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) confirmed a shooting incident between the security forces and suspected cross-border criminals occurred in the waters off Pom Pom Island in Semporna (of east Malaysian state Sabah) on Tuesday (June 30) morning. ESSCom commander Abdul Rashid Harun, however, said no General Operations Force (PGA) members involved were hurt during the 3 am incident. "At about 3 am, PGA members of a sentry post heard the sound of boat engine approaching the island. When they shone light in the direction of the boat, two shots were fired. "In defence, the PGA members fired back and forced the suspects to flee in the dark," he told Bernama. Abdul Rashid said the distance between the boat and the sentry post was between 200 and 300 metres. "The incident occurred in curfew area. We're not sure how many suspects were on the boat and what were their intentions," he said. He said investigations by the security forces late in the morning did not find any signs of the boat. Abdul Rashid said they considered it as serious incident and security personnel were always ready to face cross-border criminal threats. The Eastern Sabah Security Command is a Malaysian security area that covers 1,400 km of the Sabah's east coast from towns of Kudat to Tawau. --BERNAMA