KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's security in the east coast remains tight with marine police turning away six suspected undocumented migrants in a boat who apparently tried to slip into the Semporna district.

       A marine police patrol boat intercepted the vessel carrying the migrants as it was trying to enter Malaysian waters through the Alice Channel in Semporna on Wednesday (Jan 5).

       Semporna marine police operations commander Deputy Supt Mohammad Ismail said on Thursday (Jan 6) that they intercepted the boat with three men, a woman and two children on board.

       "From our investigations, the group was trying to slip into Semporna illegally," he said.

       He added that none of them had any personal identity or travel documents.

       DSP Mohammad said his men warned them not to try and enter the state again.

       "They then escorted the migrant boat back to sea borders," he said.

       He added that the decision to send it back out was in line with efforts to check the spread of Covid-19.

       He urged the maritime community on the east coast to share any information of illegal activities by calling or sending a WhatsApp message to the marine police operations centre at 013-9391197.