KOTA KINABALU: The dusk to dawn sea curfew on Sabah's east coast will be extended for another two weeks till April 10, says Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Idris Abdullah.

       The curfew was supposed to end on Saturday (March 26).

       He said residents in the areas involved are not allowed to leave their homes during curfew hours and no one is allowed to enter curfew zones between 6pm to 6am.

       The curfew covers waters up to three nautical miles off Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Beluran districts, he said in a statement on Friday (March 25).

       He said the curfew is still needed to stop criminal elements, including terrorists, who can threaten the safety of locals, tourists on islands and researchers.

       Comm Idris said police were still receiving information that kidnap-for-ransom groups linked to Abu Sayyaf are still trying to commit cross-border crimes.

       "The curfew is to facilitate enforcement and monitoring of boat activities in the area as well as establish a sense of security with nearby chalet owners and fishermen through the presence of a security team," Idris said.

       He said all district police chiefs have been given to the authority to issue permits to fishermen to conduct fishing activities in the areas under curfew.

       The curfew in the east coast of Sabah was put in place since July 2014 after a spate of kidnappings in the area.