KOTA KINABALU: Estate owners and employers are reminded not to hire illegal immigrants or provide any assistance to them to avoid untoward incidents in their area.

       Sabah police commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali (pic) also urged estate owners and employers to do thorough background checks when hiring foreigners and ensure that they have proper documentation.

       “If there is no documentation, please follow the rules. Many of these people use fake names.

       “I urge all plantation operators, developers and others to document their workers,” he told reporters after opening the Kemas Al-Ghazali kindergarten at the Sabah police contingent headquarters here yesterday.

       He said state police would conduct a major crackdown on illegal immigrants once the Covid-19 situation improves.

       Meanwhile, Hazani denied rumours that Sandakan has become a den for the Abu Sayyaf group after two of their members were shot dead in the district while seven others were arrested in a special operation last week.

       He said the east coast of Sabah was indeed the focus for illegal immigrants wanting to enter Malaysia and authorities would carry out strict enforcement to ensure security in the area.

       Hazani added that the security forces would take more aggressive action when they receive information from the Filipino security forces that members of the Abu Sayyaf group were trying to enter Sabah.

       On Aug 20, police shot dead two Abu Sayyaf members at a plantation area in Pulau Timbang, Sandakan.